alifornia 

ponal 

ility 


THE 

Revolutionary  Soldiers 

OF 

REDDING, 

Connecticut, 

AND  THE 

Record  of  their  Services  ; 


WITH 


Mention  of  Others  who  Rendered  Service  or 
Suffered  Loss  at  the  hands  of  the  Enemy  during 

the  Struggle  for  ^n&epen&ence,  1775-1783; 

together  with  some  Account  of  the  LOYALISTS 
of  the  TOWN  and  Vicinity;  their  Organiza- 
tion, their  Efforts  and  Sacrifices  in  Behalf  of 
the  Cause  of  their  KING,  and  their  Ultimate  Fate. 

By 
WILLIAM  EDGAR  GRUMMAN. 


HERTFORD  PRESS: 

THE  CASE,  LOCKWOOD  &  BRAINARD  COMPANY, 
1904. 


Copyright,  1904 
By  WILLIAM  E.   GRUMMAN. 


Age  following  age  Jhall  these  events  relate, 
Till  Time's  old  empire  yield  to  deflated  fate; 
Eifloric  truth  our  guardian  chiefs  proclaim 
Their  zoorth,  their  actions,  and  their  deathlefs^fame. 

JOEL  BARLOW  :    The  Prospeff  of  Peace. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Alarm,  Fairfield,  .......        93 

"       New  Haven,       .......        92 

Nonvalk.  .......         93 

American  Union   Lodge,  ......        86 

Banquets,  .  88,89 

Brandyv.ine,    Battle    of    the,     ......        68 

British  Orders,   Reports,  &c.,  .....        51 

"        Regts   in   Danbury   Raid,          .  .  .  .  .41 

Burgoyne's    Expedition,  .  .66 

Camp,    Departure    from,  ...  91 

Company    Rolls,  .  .  .       20,  36,  72 

Compo,  Fighting  at,       .  .         49 

Danbury,  Burning    of,  ......         46 

Raid,  ......        36 

Declaration   of   Colonial    Rights,         .....         13 

Independence,  .  .29 

Evacuation  of  Long  Island,  .....        32 

Fourth  Conn.  Militia,  Service  of,       .  .  .  .       47,  71,  95 

Ft.   Washington,    Capture   of,  .....        34 

Gallows    Hill,    Executions    on,  .  .  .  .  .84 

Germantown,    Battle   of,  ...  .  .         70 

Hanging   Rock,   Fight   at,         .  .  .  .  .  -        97 

Horseneck,  .  .  .  .  .85 

Long    Island    Campaign,  ......        28 

Longlots,    The,  .......         10 

Loyalists  Disarmed,  ......        27 

Treatment   of,  .....         13 

Ludlow,    Roger,  .......          9 

Monmouth,   Battle   of,  ......        77 

Patriot   Soldiers   at   Danbury,  .  .  .  .  .60 

Quebec,  Assault  on,       .  .  .  .  .  .  .26 

Redding,  Committee    of    Observation,  .  .  .  .15 

Encampment   at,  .  78 

Loyalist    Association,  ....         14 

Petition    of,  ......        75 

Settlement    of,  .  .  .  .  .  .11 

Retreat   from   New   York,          ......         32 

Returns,  Killed   and   Wounded,  .  .  .  .  .  56, 57 

Stores  Destroyed,       ......        55 

Ridgefield,   Fight  at,       .  .  .  .  .  .  .47 

Saratoga,   Battle  of,        .  .  .  .  .  .  69, 72 

Second  Conn.   Brigade,  Mutiny  of.  .  .  .  .        81 

Stamp    Act,          .  .  .....         12 

St.   Johns,   Siege  of,  .....         21 

Sugar   House,    The,        .  .....        63 

Tories,    Exile    of,  .  ...  .  .  .  .       104 

Town    Votes,  27,  36,  50,  68,  75,  76, 80,  92,  95,  96,  97, 98,  99.  ico,  103,  104 

Valley  Forge,       ...  .  .  .  .  .  .74 

White  Plains,  Battle   of,  ^ 

r-1  r     -r- 

Flag   of    Truce,  .  .  -33 

Wooster,   Death   of,        .  .  .  .  .  .  .47 

Yorktown,   Siege  of,       ....  .       101 


TO    THE    READER. 

THIS  volume  is  presented  to  the  public  with  diffidence  and  the  fear 
that  its  contents  may  not  withstand  the  test  of  literary  criticism.  But 
the  fear  of  criticism  is  not  unknown  to  writers  of  greater  ability,  and 
the  compiler  is  satisfied  that  his  work  must  prove  interesting  to  those 
for  whom  it  was  written. 

Had  such  a  work  been  undertaken  a  half  century  ago,  far  more 
interesting  and  satisfactory  results  could  have  been  obtained.  The 
Revolutionary  soldiers  had  passed  to  rest,  but  the  generation  which 
succeeded  them  was  still  largely  represented  among  men.  Vast  stores 
of  Revolutionary  anecdote  were  known  to  the  immediate  descendants 
of  our  patriot  sires,  but  these  people  and  their  traditions  are  alike  rap- 
idly passing  away.  In  their  day,  also,  much  historical  material  in  manu- 
script or  other  documentary  form  is  known  to  have  existed,  great  part 
of  which  found  its  way  through  the  hands  of  thrifty  housewives  to  the 
sacks  of  the  peddler's  wagon,  and  as  we  contemplate  this  melancholy 
fact,  it  is  impossible  to  repress  a  feeling  of  resentment  toward  that 
economical  generation  which  bartered  history  for  tinware.  In  this 
and  other  ways  many  valuable  records  have  passed  out  of  existence. 
Flame  and  the  careless  hand  and  uncertain  memory  of  man  have  lost 
us  much  that  would  now  be  treasured  with  reverent  care.  But  we  must 
be  content  with  what  we  have,  thankful  that  so  much  has  been  rescued 
from  oblivion,  and  hopeful  that  patient  research  or  fortunate  discovery 
may  yet  add  something  more  to  our  knowledge  of  that  interesting 
period  of  our  country's  history. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work,  the  writer  has  availed  himself  of  all 
the  material  within  reach,  and  offers  the  result  of  his  labors  with  the 
hope  that  its  perusal  may  lead  his  readers  to  a  better  knowledge  of 
some  of  the  men  and  events  of  the  Revolutionary  period,  and  instil 
into  their  minds  a  more  earnest  desire  to  preserve  and  perpetuate  that 
liberty  which  was  proclaimed  "  throughout  all  the  land,  to  all  the 
inhabitants  thereof." 

An  enumeration  of  the  sources  from  which  the  material  contained 
in  this  book  has  been  derived  would  form  a  very  considerable  addition 
to  a  task  which  the  writer  is  glad  to  regard  as  completed ;  he  therefore 
does  not  attempt  it.  It  seems  proper,  however,  to  express  here  his 
obligations  to  certain  individuals  whose  kind  assistance,  through  the 
medium  of  suggestion,  advice,  or  other  means,  has  led  to  the  discovery 
of  valuable  material ;  notably,  to  the  librarians  of  the  Lenox  Library  of 
New  York  and  of  the  Connecticut  State  and  Historical  Libraries ;  to 


8  TO   THE  READER. 

Mr.  John  N.  Nickerson,  town  clerk  of  Redding,  for  free  access  to  the 
town  records;  to  Mr.  Charles  Burr  Todd  for  permission  to  quote  from 
his  works,  and  to  numerous  friends,  not  less  valued  because  unnamed, 
whose  contributions  have  enabled  the  author  to  more  fully  complete 
records  which  add  much  to  the  interest  of  the  volume. 

A  brief  index  has  been  added  to  the  historical  section.  From  the 
arrangement  of  the  biographical  portion  of  the  work,  an  index  is  there 
considered  unnecessary. 

The  illustrations  in  this  work  have  been  procured  with  considerable 
difficulty.  The  cut  of  Putnam's  headquarters,  taken  from  Barber's 
"  Connecticut  Historical  Collection,"  was  obtained  through  the  courtesy 
of  M.r.  Albert  C.  Bates,  librarian  of  the  Historical  Society;  the  photo- 
graphs of  Rev.  Mr.  Bartlett,  the  guardhouse,  and  Gallows  Hill  were 
secured  by  Mr.  F.  E.  Readman,  photographer,  of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  and 
six  halftones  are  the  work  of  the  Hartford  Engraving  Company. 
The  illustrations  of  the  entrance  and  monument  at  Putnam  Memorial 
Camp  were  kindly  loaned  by  Mr.  George  A.  Parker,  of  the  Camp 
Commission. 

For  the  British  orders,  reports,  returns,  and  correspondence,  the 
author  is  principally  indebted  to  Messrs.  B.  F.  Stevens  and  Brown  of 
London,  England. 


MILITARY   HISTORY. 

Almighty  Freedom !    give  my  venturous  song 
The  force,  the  charm  that  to  thy  voice  belong. 
Tis  thine  to  shape  my  course,  to  light  my  way, 
To  nerve  my  country  with  the  patriot  lay, 
To  teach  all  men  where  all  their  interest  lies ; 
How  rulers  may  be  just  and  nations  wise. 
Strong  in  thy  strength  I  bend  no  suppliant  knee; 
Invoke  no  miracle,  no  muse  but  thee. 

JOEL  BARLOW — The  Columbiad,  Book  I. 

I. 

EARLY  HISTORY  — EVENTS  PRECEDING  THE  REVOLU- 
TION—BEGINNING OF  HOSTILITIES  — THE  NORTH- 
ERN CAMPAIGN. 

THE  history  of  New  England  is  the  story  of  the  growth  of 
independence.  The  desire  for  liberty  was  the  motive  which 
led  to  its  permanent  colonization.  "  To  enjoy  religious  liberty 
was  the  known  end  of  the  first  comers'  great  adventure  into 
this  wilderness."  The  courage  with  which  these  early  settlers 
braved  the  dangers  of  their  wilderness  home  shows  the  value 
they  set  upon  this  freedom,  since  neither  peril  nor  misfortune 
could  force  them  to  return  to  a  land  where  independent  opinion 
was  denied  them.  The  forms  of  government  which  they  in- 
stituted among  themselves,  the  vigor  and  determination  with 
which  they  resisted  foreign  aggression  and  monarchical  despot- 
ism, exhibit  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  civil  liberty.  Among 
all  classes  in  this  new  land  grew  the  desire  for  the  enjoyment 
of  freedom  in  larger  measure  than  they  had  ever  known  before. 
The  contentions  which  arose  for  the  absolute  ownership  of 
the  soil,  for  the  privilege  of  self-government,  for  representation 
in  the  national  councils,  and  the  increasing  desire  for  social 
privileges,  educational  advantages,  and  opportunities  for  ad- 
vancement, were  contributory  to  the  causes  of  the  great  strug- 
gle which  taught  "  rulers  to  be  just  and  nations  wise."  What 
part  was  borne  in  this  conflict  by  the  men  who  dwelt  among 
our  rugged  hills,  these  pages  may  reveal. 

It  is  to  Roger  Ludlow,  among  the  leaders  who  planted  the 


I0  EARLY  HISTORY. 

seed  of  independence  in  New  England's  rock-bound  soil,  that 
we  are  indebted  for  the  particular  effort  at  colonization  which 
finally  resulted  in  the  settlement  of  Redding  and  the  develop- 
ment of  its  history.  A  gentleman  by  birth,  a  lawyer  by  pro- 
fession, he  came  early  to  New  England,  and  soon  made  his 
influence  felt  in  the  shaping  of  public  affairs.  Removing  from 
Massachusetts  Bay,  he  became  prominent  in  the  public  service 
of  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  set- 
tlement at  Windsor,  and  in  1639  we  find  him  a  spectator  of 
the  struggle  that  ensued  when  the  troops  under  Capt.  John 
Mason  drove  the  Pequots  into  their  last  stronghold  in  the 
recesses  of  the  Sasqua  swamp.  In  the  following  year,  com- 
missioned to  plant  a  settlement  at  Pequonnock,  he  passed 
beyond  his  appointed  destination,  and  on  the  fertile  plains  of 
Uncoway,  near  the  scene  of  the  "  swamp  fight,"  he  founded 
the  town  of  Fairfield.  Here  he  made  his  home  for  fifteen 
years,  standing  high  in  the  councils  of  town  and  colony,  and 
aiding  the  growth  of  the  community  of  which  he  was  the 
founder.  At  the  end  of  this  period,  with  political  ambitions 
disappointed,  embroiled  in  dissensions  which  grew  out  of  the 
delusion  of  witchcraft,  and  suffering  financial  reverses,  he 
turned  his  steps  away  from  the  fair  town  he  had  founded,  and 
disappeared  into  the  mists  of  history.  But,  under  other  able 
leaders,  the  settlement  grew  in  power,  numbers,  and  influence, 
pressed  back  the  boundaries  of  the  red  man's  domain,  and  ex- 
tended its  territory,  its  commerce,  and  its  importance.  Jealous 
of  their  hard-won  freedom,  and  desirous  that  neither  king  nor 
peer  should  establish  overlordship  among  them,  the  settlers 
hastened  to  acquire  the  best  title  they  could  to  the  lands  they 
occupied,  and  to  parcel  out  among  themselves  all  new  lands 
to  which  they  could  obtain  access.  Individual  grants,  large 
and  small,  were  matters  of  frequent  record,  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  of  these  being  that  curious  division  of  territory 
known  as  "  the  Longlots  "  —  strips  of  land  less  than  one  hun- 
dred rods  in  width,  but  running  back  twelve  or  fifteen  miles 
into  the  country.  By  degrees  the  settlement  expanded  till, 
meeting  the  confines  of  other  communities  on  either  hand,  it 
began  slowly  to  reach  out  toward  the  higher  grounds  to  the 
northward.  As  it  moved  on,  the  wigwam  of  the  savage  was 
displaced  by  the  solitary  log-house  of  the  settler,  which  in 


EARLY  HISTORY.  u 

time  was  surrounded  by  other  dwellings,  and  hamlets  appeared 
where  pathless  forests  had  grown.  The  church  and  the  school- 
house  took  their  places  as  factors  in  the  moral  and  material 
advancement  of  the  people  as,  step  by  step,  civilization  ad- 
vanced along  the  highlands,  and  the  spirit  of  liberty  kept  pace 
beside  it. 

The  first  indication  of  settlement  in  that  section  which  at 
length  became  the  town  of  Redding  is  found  in  the  record  of 
a  large  grant  of  land  to  a  single  individual,  followed  by  other 
grants  or  sales  to  eager  speculators.  Then  we  have  a  glimpse 
of  its  tiny  settlement  of  three  widely-separated  habitations, 
their  only  highway  a  forest  path.  Later,  a  rude  church  ap- 
pears, which,  during  the  Revolution,  was  the  scene  of  other 
than  devotional  exercises,  serving  the  purpose  of  a  town  hall 
as  well.  By  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  Redding 
had  become  a  parish  numbering  upward  of  one  thousand  souls, 
and  an  agitation  for  township  privileges  resulted,  in  1/67,  in 
its  erection  into  a  separate  town. 

Before  the  separation  from  the  parent  town  took  place, 
trouble  between  the  colonies  and  the  royal  government  had 
developed  and  had  already  assumed  serious  proportions. 
These  difficulties  had  long  been  accumulating.  For  years  the 
colonists  had  warily  guarded  their  rights  and  privileges  against 
attempted  encroachments  and  aggressions,  resorting  to  dip- 
lomacy and  conciliatory  measures  when  such  could  be  success- 
fully employed,  and  to  open  opposition  only  when  all  other 
means  had  failed.  At  various  periods  of  their  history  they 
had  been  compelled  to  resist  the  efforts  of  royal  despots  for 
the  subversion  of  their  liberties,  and  from'the  days  of  Cromwell 
such  attempts  were  a  constant  menace  to  them.  Yet  through 
all,  they  remained  steadfast  in  their  allegiance  to  the  crown, 
rendering  at  all  times  such  aid  as  lay  in  their  power.  During 
the  several  wars  with  France,  which  extended  to  the  American 
continent,  the  colonies  contributed  both  men  and  means  to 
aid  the  armies  of  England.  The  effort  to  lay  upon  the  colonies 
the  burden  of  wars  which  they  had  not  provoked  was  regarded 
by  them  as  a  flagrant  injustice,  and  after  the  conclusion  of  the 
last  French  war  the  attempt  to  tax  the  Americans  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  the  conflict  roused  the  indignation  of  the  people. 
Blood  they  had  spilled  and  treasure  they  had  spent  to  main- 


12  BEGINNING   OF  HOSTILITIES. 

tain  the  honor  and  supremacy  of  the  mother  country,  and  they 
had  reaped  ingratitude.  The  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act  in 
1765  roused  public  feeling  to  fever  heat.  Public  officials 
charged  with  the  enforcement  of  the  act  were  forced  to  resign. 
Its  repeal  but  temporarily  delayed  the  gathering  storm.  The 
imposition,  in  1767,  of  a  tax  on  tea  and  other  imports,  and 
the  attempt  to  collect  revenue  thereon,  caused  the  anger  of 
the  people  to  break  out  afresh.  But  this  time  the  British 
ministry  was  determined  to  enforce  its  authority,  and  the 
Americans  were  as  firmly  resolved  on  resistance.  Seizures 
of  property  and  other  acts  of  British  officials  led  to  open  hos- 
tility ;  collisions  occurred  between  the  English  soldiery  which 
had  been  sent  to  America  and  the  people  of  the  towns  where 
they  were  quartered ;  blood  was  shed,  and  an  implacable  hatred 
aroused  in  the  breasts  of  the  colonists.  The  partial  repeal  of 
the  duties  failed  to  allay  the  excitement.  The  nocturnal  ex- 
cursion of  the  "  Boston  Tea  Party  "  exasperated  the  ministry, 
which,  in  reprisal,  closed  the  port  of  Boston  through  the  agency 
of  the  Port  Bill,  thus  cutting  off  all  supplies  for  that  city  by 
water.  Immediately  the  colonists  took  up  the  cause  of  their 
Boston  brethren,  and  resolutions  of  sympathy  and  approval 
of  their  conduct  were  voted,  and  supplies  were  forwarded 
from  all  sections.  Words  of  encouragement,  and  aid  of  a 
more  substantial  nature,  were  the  contributions  of  many  of  the 
Connecticut  towns. 

From  this  time  forward  the  hostility  engendered  by  the 
acts  of  the  home  government  became  more  pronounced  and 
active,  involving  not  only  the  military  representatives  of  the 
crown,  but  also  the  civil  authorities  acting  under  royal  com- 
mission and  the  large  minority  whose  interests  inclined  them 
to  the  support  of  the  royal  cause,  to  which  they  were  resolved 
to  adhere,  while  regretting  the  policy  which  brought  about 
such  a  critical  state  of  affairs.  To  these  was  opposed  an  ele- 
ment bent  on  governmental  reform,  in  a  mood  to  defy  all 
authority,  and  to  visit  its  displeasure  by  violent  methods  upon 
those  who  opposed  the  popular  will..  Intermingled  with  these 
classes  was  a  considerable  number  of  citizens  whose  opinions 
were  not  yet  definitely  formed,  and  whom  circumstances  might 
sway  to  either  side.  As  the  crisis  approached,  the  rage  of  the 
populace  was  specially  visited  upon  those  who  upheld  the 


EVENTS   OF  1775-  13 

course  of  the  royal  government.  Resort  was  had  to  acts  of 
violence.  The  tories  were  mobbed,  plundered,  intimidated, 
tarred  and  feathered,  carted  about  the  public  streets  as  a  public 
spectacle.  Such  acts,  though  indefensible,  are  inseparable 
from  the  conditions  accompanying  a  great  popular  upheaval, 
and  have  had  their  counterparts  in  more  recent  history.  Pri- 
vate malice  and  a  spirit  of  mischief,  as  well  as  patriotic  fervor 
and  popular  indignation,  furnished  pretexts  for  these  unlawful 
proceedings.  To  prevent  such  outrages  Congress  had  com- 
mitted the  care  of  tories  and  suspected  persons  to  the  various 
committees  of  inspection  and  observation,  but  these  were  not 
always  efficient  in  the  performance  of  their  duties. 

Redding  was  not  free  from  this  species  of  disorder.  Here, 
as  elsewhere,  were  the  elements  necessary  for  its  production : 
the  firm  loyalist,  the  inflexible  patriot,  the  lawless  character. 
To  what  extent  the  animosities  bred  by  the  political  discords 
of  previous  years  had  been  carried  is  not  shown,  but  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  1775  inaugurated  a  miniature  reign  of  terror 
for  the  tories  of  this  vicinity.  The  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  of  September  5,  1774,  furnished  the  occasion 
for  a  movement  on  the  part  of  the  tories  which  led  to  the  most 
unhappy  results.  The  Congress  adopted  a  declaration  of  rights, 
claiming  the  enjoyment  of  life,  liberty,  and  property  as  natural 
rights,  and  the  common  law  of  England  as  the  heritage  of  the 
colonists;  declared  the  people  bound  by  no  law  to  which  they 
had  not  consented  through  their  own  representatives;  asserted 
the  right  of  local  government  by  colonial  assemblies,  and  the 
right  to  trial  by  juries  selected  from  the  people;  denied  to 
Parliament  all  power  of  taxation;  protesced  against  the  quar- 
tering of  standing  armies  upon  the  colonies  without  their  con- 
sent; denounced  eleven  recent  parliamentary  acts;  and  formed 
an  "  American  Association,"  pledging  its  members  to  entire 
commercial  non-intercourse  with  Great  Britain  and  its  de- 
pendencies, or  with  any  American  colony  which  failed  to  up- 
hold the  association,  until  all  obnoxious  legislation  should  be 
repealed.  Committees  were  to  be  appointed  in  every  locality 
throughout  the  colonies  to  detect  violators  of  the  association, 
with  whom  all  dealings  were  to  be  broken  off.  The  "  Declara- 
tion of  Colonial  Rights  "  came  very  near  being  a  declaration 
of  independence. 


I4  READING  LOYALIST  ASSOCIATION. 

These  proceedings  were  looked  upon  with  anxiety  and 
alarm  by  loyalists  everywhere,  who  saw  the  peace  and  security 
of  the  country,  as  well  as  their  own  personal  interests,  jeopard- 
ized thereby.  They  at  once  formed  loyalist  associations,  pro- 
testing against  the  resolves  of  the  patriot  Congress.  A  con- 
siderable number  of  the  tories  of  Fairfield  County  organized 
under  the  name  of  the  "  Reading  Loyalist  Association,"  and 
in  February,  1775,  caused  a  series  of  resolutions  to  be  pub- 
lished in  James  Rivington's  Gazetteer  at  New  York,  publicly 
declaring  their  sentiments  relative  to  the  proceedings  of  Con- 
gress and  the  acts  of  the  American  Association.  Their  story 
can  be  most  fitly  and  fully  presented  by  the  republication  of 
the  original  documents,  as  given  in  Force's  "  American  Ar- 
chives " : 

READING   (CONN.)   ASSOCIATION. 

MR.  RIVINGTON  :  In  the  present  critical  situation  of  publick  affairs, 
we  the  subscribers,  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Reading, 
and  the  adjoining  parts,  in  the  County  of  Fairfield,  and  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  think  it  necessary,  (through  the  columns  of  your  Paper) 
to  assure  the  publick  that  we  are  open  enemies  to  any  change  in  the 
present  happy  Constitution;  and  highly  disapprove  of  all  measures  in 
any  degree  calculated  to  promote  confusion  and  disorder;  for  which 
purpose,  and  in  order  to  avoid  the  general  censure  incurred  by  a  great 
part  of  this  Colony  from  the  mode  of  conduct  here  adopted  for  the 
purpose  of  opposing  the  British  Government,  we  have  entered  into  the 
following  Resolves  and  Agreements,  viz : 

First.  Resolved,  That  while  we  enjoy  the  privileges  and  immuni- 
ties of  the  English  Constitution,  we  will  render  all  due  obedience  to  his 
most  gracious  Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  and  that  a  firm  depend- 
ence on  the  mother  country  is  essential  to  our  political  safety  and 
happiness. 

Second.  Resolved,  That  the  privileges  and  immunities  of  this  Con- 
stitution are  yet  (in  a  good  degree)  continued  to  all  his  Majesty's 
American  subjects,  except  those  who,  we  conceive,  have  justly  for- 
feited their  title  thereto. 

Third.  Resolved,  That  we  suppose  the  Continental  Congress  was 
constituted  for  the  purpose  of  restoring  harmony  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  Colonies,  and  removing  the  displeasure  of  his  Majesty 
towards  his  American  subjects,  whereas,  on  the  contrary,  some  of  their 
Resolutions  appear  to  us  immediately  calculated  to  widen  the  present 
unhappy  breach,  counteract  the  first  principles  of  civil  society,  and  in 
a  great  degree  abridge  the  privileges  of  their  constituents. 

Fourth.  Resolved,  That  notwithstanding  we  will  in  all  circum- 
stances, conduct  with  prudence  and  moderation,  we  consider  it  an  indis- 
pensable duty  we  owe  to  our  King  and  Constitution,  our  country  and 


READING  LOYALIST  ASSOCIATION.  I5 

posterity,  to  defend,  maintain,  and  preserve,  at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and 
properties,  the  prerogative  of  the  crown,  and  the  privileges  of  the  sub- 
ject from  all  attacks  by  any  rebellious  body  of  men,  any  Committees  of 
Inspection,  Correspondence,  &c. 

[Signed  by  one  hundred  and  forty  one  Inhabitants,  whose  names  are 
to  be  seen  at  the  Printer's.] 

Immediately  upon  the  publication  of  this  document  the 
patriots  of  Redding  set  themselves  to  work  to  discover  the 
signers  of  the  instrument.  This  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
a  matter  of  great  difficulty,  for  presently  a  list  of  the  Redding 
subscribers  was  made  public. 

READING  (CONN.)  COMMITTEE. 

Whereas,  there  was  a  certain  number  of  Resolves  published  in  James 
Rivington's  Gazetteer,  of  the  23d  of  February,  1775,  and  said  by  said 
Rivington  to  be  signed  by  one  hundred  and  forty  one  Freeholders  and 
Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Reading,  and  the  adjacent  parts,  in  the 
County  of  Fairfield,  and  Cdlony  of  Connecticut ;  and  whereas  said 
Resolves  are  injurious  to  the  rights  of  this  Colony,  and  breathe  a  spirit 
of  enmity  and  opposition  to  the  rights  and  liberties  of  all  America,  and 
are  in  direct  opposition  to  the  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress ; 
and  notwithstanding  said  Resolutions  were  come  into  with  a  (seeming) 
view  to  secure  the  said  signers  some  extraordinary  privileges  and 
immunities,  yet  either  through  negligence  in  the  Printer,  or  upon 
design  of  the  subscribers,  said  signed  names  are  not  made  publick : 
And  now,  if  there  be  any  advantage  in  adopting  those  principles,  we  are 
willing  they  should  be  entitled  thereto ;  and  for  which  end,  and  for 
the  more  effectual  carrying  into  execution  said  Association  we  have 
taken  some  pains,  and  by  the  assistance  of  him  who  carried  said 
Resolves  to  said  Printer,  we  have  obtained  the  whole  of  said  names. 
But  as  we  mean  not  to  publish  the  names  of  any  except  those  that 
belong  to  said  Reading,  their  names  are  as  follows,  viz : 

David  Knap  Daniel  Morehouse  Jonathan  Meeker 

Andrew  Knap  Ephraim  Deforest  Samuel  Hawley 

Daniel  Lyon  Lazarus  Beach  Jonathan  Mallery,  Jr. 

Nehemiah  Seely,  Jun.       Seth  Hull  John  Seymour 

Stephen  Lacy  Hezekiah  Platt  Jesse  Bearslee 

James  Adams  Zebulon  Platt  Darling  Gyer 

Zaccheus  Morehouse  Timothy  Platt  Ebenezer  Williams 

Ephraim  Whitlock  Lazarus  Wheeler  Paul  Bartram 

Jabez  Lyon  Joshua  Hall  John  Gyer 

Prince  Hawse  Jonathan  Knap  Abel  Burr 

Andrew  Patchen  James  Gray  Shubael  Bennet 

Ezekiel  Hill  Peter  Lyon  John  Picket 

David  Manrow  John  Drew  John  Picket,  Jun. 


!6  READING  LOYALIST  ASSOCIATION. 

Obed  Hendrix  John  Lyon  James  Morgan 

Isaac  Platt  John  Mallery  Nathaniel  Gyer 

Enos  Lee  John  Raymond  Asa  Norton 

John  Lee  Eli  Lyon  Eleazur  Olmsted 

Nathaniel   Barlow  Enos  Wheeler  Isaac  Bunnell 

Asael  Patchen  David  Crowfoot  Thaddeus  Gyer 

Benjamin  Sturgis  Thomas  Munson  William  Manrow 

Ebenezer  Sturgis  Nehemiah  Seely  Joseph  Gyer 

William  Lee  Charles  McNeil  John  Sherwood 

Seth  Banks  Stephen  Betts  Simeon  Munger 

David  Turney  Ephraim  Meeker  Joseph  Burr 

John  Sandford  John  Layne 

N.  B.  There  are  only  forty-two  Freeholders  in  the  above  number: 
there  are  several  minors,  &c.,  to  make  the  above  number  of  seventy- 
four,  that  belong  to  said  Reading,  and  we  hereby  hold  them  up  to 
publick  view,  as  opposers  to  the  Association  of  said  Congress. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  said  Town  of 
Reading. 

EBENEZER  COUCH,  Chairman. 

Something  like  taunt  and  sarcasm  is  apparent  in  this  cir- 
cular of  the  Redding  committee.  Whether  such  was  its  intent, 
such  was  evidently  its  effect.  After  consultation,  the  loyalists 
resolved  to  make  a  stand,  and,  through  the  medium  they  had 
previously  employed,  boldly  declared  their  entire  membership. 
The  answer  to  the  committee  appeared  in  Rivington's  paper: 

MR.  RIVINGTON  :  You  are  desired  by  many  staunch  friends  of  the 
King  and  the  Constitution,  in  this  Colony,  to  insert  the  names  of  the 
subscribers  to  the  Reading  Association,  as  published  in  the  Gazetteer, 
on  the  23d  of  February. 

JOHN  LYON. 

Capt.  Joshua  Hall  John  Drew  John  Hall 

Capt.  James  Morgan  John  Mallery  Moses  Knap 

Lieut.  Daniel  Lyon  John  Mallery,  Jun.  Neil  McNeil 

Lieut.  Peter  Lyon  Ephraim  Meeker  Barnard  Kane 

Ensign  Sam  Hawley  Ephraim  Deforest  C.  McNeil 

David  Knap  James  Adams  Jabez  Lyon 

Stephen  Betts  Joseph  Burr  Calvin  Wheeler 

Timothy  Platt  Hezekiah  Platt  Lazarus  Wheeler 

Joseph  Lyon  Zebulon  Platt  Enos  Wheeler 

Lazarus  Beach  Jesse  Bardslee  Stephen  Lacy 

Seth  Hull  Jonathan  Knap  Dr.  Asa  Norton 

John  Sanford  Simeon  Munger  Jonathan  Meaker 

James  Gray,  Jun.  Prince  Hawes  John  Lane 

John  Lyon  John  Seymour  Neh.  Seely,  Jun. 


READING  LOYALIST  ASSOCIATION. 


17 


Zaccheus  Morehouse 
Ephraim  Whitlock 
Andrew  Patchen 
Ezekiel  Hill 
Daniel  Morehouse 
William  Caldwell 
Ebenezer  Lyon 
Peter  Thorn 
Peter  Jackson 
David  Munro 
Jabez  Adams 
John  Bartram  • 
Andrew  Knap 
David  Turny 
Gersham  Bulkley 
John  Raymond 
Eli  Lyon 
Nathaniel   Guyer 
Ephraim  Robbins 
Isaac  Bunnell 
Darling  Guyer 
David  Crofut 
Thomas  Munson 
Jonathan  Lyon 
Gersham  Lyon,  Jun 
Jesse  Lyon 
Thomas  Lyon 
Stephen  Couch 
Ebenezer  Williams 
Paul  Bartram 
John  Guyer 
Abel  Burr 
Abel  Burr,  Jun. 
Shubael  Bennet 


Eleazer  Olmsted 
Obed  Hendrix 
Abner  Gilbert 
Isaac  Platt 
Jonathan  Burr 
William  Manrow 
Enos  Lee 
Silas  Lee 
John  Lee 
Nathaniel  Lee  . 
Joseph  Fairchild 
Nathaniel  Barlow 
Thaddeus  Guyer 
Joseph  Guyer 
Asael  Patchen 
Ben.  Sturges 
John  Sherwood 
Ebenezer  Sturges 
William  Lee 
Seth  Banks 
John  Byington  Jun. 
John  Pickwit 
John  Pickwit,  Jun. 
Abel  Platt 
Joseph  Platt 
Neh.  St.  John 
Israel  Rowland 
Silas  Griffin 
William  Bradley 
William  Hambleton 
James  Rowell, 
Joseph  Edwards,  Jun. 
C.  Fairchild 
J.  Morehouse 


Isaac  Drew 
Peter  Drew 
Benjamin  Williams 
Samuel  Judd  Jun. 
James  Gray 
Nehemiah  Whitlock 
Samuel  Judd 
Ezra  Kellogg 
Jabez  Taylor  Jun. 
Silas  Taylor 
Jonathan  Judd 
Benjamin  Bailey 
William  Judd 
Hezekiah  Whitlock 
Samuel  Hoyt,  Jun. 
James  Hoyt 
Samuel  Bailey 
Michael  Benedict 
Comfort  Barnum 
Ezra  Percy 
Nathaniel   Picket 
Elijah  Barnum 
Ebenezer  Whitlock 
James  Davis 
Solomon  Cutis 
Daniel  Cascis 
Nehemiah  Seely 
Peter  Bulkley 
Ebenezer  Mills 
John  Drew 
Nathan  Mallery  Jun. 
Josiah  Platt 


N.  B.  Obadiah  Platt  having  been  proscribed  in  Mr.  Gaines  Paper, 
on  a  suspicion  of  subscribing  the  Association,  the  publick  may  be 
assured  the  above  is  the  very  list  delivered  to  the  Printers  and  that 
Obadiah  Plait's  name  was  not  inserted  in  it. 

There  are  no  signers  to  this  piece  under  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Then  the  storm  broke.  The  members  of  the  association 
being  publicly  known,  were  now  committed  to  the  support  of 
the  royal  government  or  to  the  necessity  of  submitting  to  the 
demands  of  the  dominant  party.  Men  of  various  shades  of 
opinion  were  among  the  signers  of  the  resolves :  ardent  loyal- 
ists, conservative  citizens,  timid  individuals  seeking  the  safe 


!8  TREATMENT  OF  LOYALISTS. 

side,  for  absolute  unanimity  is  not  to  be  found  in  any  com- 
bination of  men.  Each  had  placed  his  own  interpretation  on 
the  document  he  signed,  and  affixed  his  name  with  whatever 
mental  reservations  he  chose  to  make. 

Many  of  the  loyalist  associators  were  induced,  by  means 
more  readily  guessed  than  known,  to  refrain  from  active  oppo- 
sition to  the  patriots ;  the  course  of  events  soon  brought  some 
of  them  into  complete  accord  with  the  opponents  of  the  home 
government ;  but  upon  the  heads  of  those  who  persisted  in 
upholding  the  royal  authority  the  wrath  of  the  people  fell  with 
unmitigated  severity.  Just  what  was  done  with  these  unfor- 
tunate persons  may  be  inferred  from  statements  made  in  a 
preceding  paragraph,  or  learned  from  personal  records  in 
another  part  of  this  volume.  The  severity  of  their  treatment 
exceeded  their  powers  of  endurance.  The  harassed  tories 
fled  to  the  forest,  and,  hidden  in  caves  and  thickets,  watched 
and  waited  for  an  opportunity  to  place  themselves  under  royal 
protection.  No  other  refuge  could  they  find,  for  the  British 
army  was  far  away,  soon  to  be  besieged  in  Boston,  and  finally 
to  be  forced  out  of  the  country  altogether,  and  it  was  many 
months  before  the  arrival  of  royal  troops  at  New  York  brought 
the  prospect  of  deliverance.  Even  then,  escape  to  the  British 
lines  was  an  undertaking  of  extreme  difficulty  and  peril,  for 
the  vigilant  patriots  guarded  every  avenue  of  retreat.  The 
lines  of  the  American  army  barred  passage  by  land  to  New 
York,  and  the  patriots  seem  early  to  have  secured  all  the  water 
craft  on  the  northern  coast  of  Long  Island  Sound,  so  that 
flight  by  water  was  only  rendered  possible  by  the  aid  of  ex- 
peditions from  the  opposite  shore.  Nevertheless,  many  of  the 
Redding  loyalists  got  away  during  the  course  of  the  war,  took 
refuge  within  the  British  lines,  and  even  bore  arms  against 
their  former  neighbors. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  town  of  Redding  when 
the  fateful  ipth  of  April,  1775,  dawned  upon  the  American 
colonies,  and  the  country  was  electrified  by  the  news  of  the 
affair  at  Lexington.  The  legislature  was  immediately  con- 
vened, and  authorized  the  embodiment  of  one-fourth  of  the 
militia,  to  be  formed  into  six  regiments  of  about  one  thousand 
men  each.  Soon  the  war-drums  were  calling  the  people  to 
arms,  and,  while  they  were  preparing  for  the  field,  news  came 


BUNKER  HILL.  I9 

of  the  bloodless  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  with  its  immense 
stores  of  war  material,  including  nearly  two  hundred  cannon 
of  various  kinds  and  calibres,  one  hundred  stand  of  arms,  and 
large  quantities  of  ammunition  and  commissary  stores.  This 
exploit,  planned,  organized,  led  and  executed  by  Connecticut 
men,  and  paid  for  out  of  the  Connecticut  treasury,  stood  out 
in  strong  contrast  to  the  expedition  against  Concord,  where 
the  king's  troops  had  spilled  so  much  of  their  blood  to  disable 
a  few  cannon  and  destroy  sixty  barrels  of  flour.  Then,  while 
public  excitement  was  at  its  highest  pitch,  came  the  terrific 
climax  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  the  martial  pride  and  power  of 
Great  Britain  were  humbled  by  a  few  hundred  undisciplined 
and  toil-weary  farmers,  and  a  profitless  victory  secured  to 
the  royal  arms  only  after  an  unparalleled  slaughter. 

No  Redding  man,  so  far  as  known,  received  his  baptism  of 
fire  in  that  blaze  of  battle,  which  strewed  the  slopes  of  Bunker 
Hill  with  the  forms  of  gallant  men.  But  they  heard  the  story 
—  our  soldiers  and  our  people  —  of  the  midnight  assembly 
of  troops  and  the  march  to  the  hill ;  of  the  hours  of  toil  in  the 
darkness,  unsuspected  by  the  enemy  in  town  or  fleet  till  day- 
light revealed  their  work,  when  the  roar  of  cannon,  the  tramp 
of  assembling  battalions,  the  sight  of  housetops  and  hillsides 
crowded  with  eager,  anxious  spectators,  nerved  the  tired  pat- 
riots for  the  coming  ordeal  of  battle,  toiling  on,  weary,  thirsty, 
hungry,  while  the  British  soldiery  crossed  the  river,  formed  in 
splendid  array,  ate  their  noonday  meal  at  leisure  —  the  last 
for  so  many  of  them  —  as  shot  and  shell  flew  incessantly  over 
their  heads,  then  rose  to  their  places  in  line,  and  advanced  upon 
that  weak  defense,  only  to  fall  by  hundreds  before  a  withering 
blast  of  musketry,  or  be  hurled  in  headlong  haste  back  upon 
the  river;  and  how,  at  last,  they  won  the  hill,  not  by  superior 
numbers,  or  courage,  or  discipline,  or  leadership,  but  solely 
because  the  ammunition  of  the  defenders  was  exhausted,  and 
more  could  not  be  had.  But  the  encounter  intensified  the  spirit 
of  resistance,  bred  contempt  of  the  military  prestige  of  Britain, 
and  inspired  the  soldiers  of  the  colonies  with  the  hope  of  bril- 
liant achievement.  In  this  spirit,  doubtless,  the  soldiers  of 
our  town  went  forward  to  the  task  assigned  them.  An  invasion 
of  Canada  had  been  projected,  with  the  intention  of  gaining 
the  British  posts  in  that  region,  and  of  bringing  over  its  in- 


20 


THE  NORTHERN  CAMPAIGN. 


habitants  to  the  support  of  the  colonies.  For  this  purpose 
some  three  thousand  troops  were  mobilized,  consisting  of  one 
regiment  from  New  York  and  two  from  Connecticut.  The 
Fifth  Connecticut,  commanded  by  Col.  David  Waterbury,  con- 
tained a  company  recruited  from  Redding  and  vicinity,  and 
led  by  a  Redding  officer,  Captain  Zalmon  Read.  The  roll  of 
this  company  carries  nearly  one  hundred  names,  about  one- 
third  of  which  are  easily  recognizable  as  those  of  Redding  men. 

TENTH  COMPANY,  FIFTH  REGIMENT,  CONNECTICUT  LINE. 


Capt.  Zalmon  Read 

Francis  Hutenac 

John  Squier 

Lieut.  Ezekiel  Sanford 

Gershom  Salmon 

David  Fairchild 

Lieut.  David  Peet 

George  Perry 

Daniel  Osborn 

Ensign  Benj.  Nichols 

Henry  Hopkins 

Ephraim  Butler 

Aaron  Hull 

Jeremiah  Batterson 

Elias  Brisby 

Gideon  Peet 

John  Parsons 

Ezbun  Hubble 

Aaron  Barlow 

Jesse  Rowland 

John   Byington 

Daniel  Silliman 

Jos.  Dickson 

Jos.  Whitlock 

Daniel  Couch 

Jery  Jarsbon 

John  Jones 

Aaron  Sanford 

Jery  Riand 

John  Blackman  Jr. 

Samuel  Barlow 

John  Blackman 

Jos.  Jackson 

Jabez  Burr 

Jonathan  Ford 

Isaac  Fairchild 

Reuben  Peet 

Joshua  Jackson 

James  Judson 

Abijah  Gregory 

Jedediah  Wells 

John  Fairchild 

Stephen  Hurlbut 

Israel  Clifford 

Nathan  Coley 

Ebenezer  Burr 

Enoch  Towner 

Samuel  Gould 

Daniel  Robinson 

Stephen  Hall 

Stephen  Meeker 

Abraham  Adams 

Israel  Barnum 

Asael  Turrell 

Andrew  Patchen 

Jasper  Jones 

David  Bennet 

Charles  White 

Joseph  Merrit 

Elijah  Elmore 

Daniel  Gorham 

Martin  Patchen 

Ebenezer  Gilbert 

Daniel  Bartlet 

Matthew  Hall 

Ebenezer  French 

David  Sturges 

Nathan  Rumsay 

Jediah  Rigs 

Daniel  Read 

Phineas  Squier 

Morris  Griffin 

Daniel  Blackman 

Ruben  Nichols 

Nathan  Blackman 

David  Hubble 

Samuel  Gilbert 

Ruben  Chapman 

David  Minot 

Sturges  Lines 

Samuel  French 

David  Pembleton 

Solomon  Green 

Seth  Bulkly 

Daniel  Platt 

William  Bunet 

Eliphalet  Russell 

Elijah  Sears 

Zibe  Westcote 

John  Alabin 

Eliphalet  Hubbard 

Jack  Sherwood 

Benjamin  Seeley 

[Rec.  Ct.  Men  in  Rev.] 

The  Fifth  was  a  large  regiment,  over  one  thousand  strong, 
and  in  the  latter  part  of  June  marched  to  New  York.    On  the 


SIEGE   OF  ST.   JOHNS.  21 

26th  it  embarked  on  transport  vessels,  and  proceeded  up  the 
Hudson,  arriving  at  Albany  on  the  28th,  after  a  run  of  about 
twenty-eight  hours.  On  the  29th  the  troops  began  their  north- 
ward march.  Their  immediate  destination  was  St.  Johns, 
a  fortified  post  on  the  Sorel  River,  the  outlet  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  Until  the  nth  of  August  they  were  journeying  toward 
Skeensboro,  on  the  headwaters  of  the  lake.  On  this  march 
the  men  had  their  first  experience  of  the  discomforts  of  soldier 
life ;  the  road  to  Skeensboro  was  wet  and  slippery,  the  night 
of  August  loth  was  extremely  wet,  and  the  troops  sheltered 
themselves  as  best  they  could  under  hemlock  boughs.  About 
10  A.  M.  of  the  following  day  they  reached  Skeensboro,  where 
boats  were  found  in  readiness  to  carry  them  to  Ticonderoga 
and,  immediately  embarking,  arrived  at  the  fort  the  same  day. 
Here  they  found  temporary  shelter  till  the  I3th,  when  the 
tents  and  baggage,  which  had  been  sent  by  way  of  Lake 
George,  arrived,  and  the  men  went  into  camp  and  enjoyed  a 
season  of  repose. 

The  troops  composing  the  expedition  consisted,  at  this  time, 
of  the  ist  and  5th  Connecticut  regiments,  Lamb's  artillery,  and 
some  New  York  battalions,  Connecticut  furnishing  much  the 
larger  proportion  of  men.  In  its  material,  the  army  included 
many  of  the  sturdy,  free-spirited  sons  of  New  England ;  a 
willing,  but  not  well-disciplined  body,  neither  showy  nor  or- 
derly. There  was  probably  little  attempt  at  uniformity  in  dress 
and  equipment;  men  and  muskets  were  the  chief  requirements 
of  the  campaign.  The  army  early  manifested  the  military 
vices.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Trumbull,  who  accompanied  the 
expedition  as  chaplain,  later  wrote  of  it :  "  Perhaps  there 
never  was  a  more  ill-governed,  profane,  and  wicked  army, 
among  a  people  of  such  advantages,  on  earth." 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Monday,  August  28th, 
the  whole  army  embarked  for  St.  Johns.  After  a  halt  of  three 
or  four  days  at  Crown  Point,  the  expedition  was  again  on  its 
way.  At  noon  on  September  4th  Gen.  Schuyler,  who  com- 
manded the  Northern  Department,  gave  final  orders  for  the 
forward  movement,  and  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  the 
troops  reached  Isle  Aux  Noix,  and  a  reconnoitering  party  was 
sent  out  toward  St.  Johns.  September  6th  a  body  of  about 
one  thousand  men  (of  whom  two  hundred  were  New  York 


22  SIEGE   OF  ST.   JOHNS. 

troops,  and  the  remainder  were  from  Col.  Waterbury's  regi- 
ment) was  sent  forward  to  commence  .the  investment  of  St. 
Johns.  This  detachment  arrived  before  the  fort  at  2  p.  M., 
drew  the  enemy's  fire,  and  adroitly  landed  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  avoid  an  ambuscade  which  had  been  prepared  for  it. 
Having  made  good  their  landing,  the  troops  were  formed  for 
battle  and  advanced  toward  the  fort,  when  their  left  flank  was 
suddenly  assailed  by  a  body  of  Canadians  and  Indians,  placed 
in  ambush  at  that  point.  Wheeling  to  the  left,  the  Americans 
charged  the  enemy  with  great  spirit  and  firmness,  driving  their 
opponents  from  the  field.  After  this  action  the  troops  fell  back 
to  the  water's  edge  and  threw  up  a  light  breastwork  within 
range  of  the  enemy's  shells,  which  were  plentifully  thrown 
among  them. 

Gen.  Schuyler,  having  now  developed  the  enemy's  strength, 
satisfied  that  the  place  could  not  be  carried  by  assault,  and 
having  no  artillery  at  hand,  fell  back  the  next  day  to  Isle  Aux 
Noix,  to  make  preparations  for  a  siege.  On  the  loth  he  re- 
embarked  his  army,  three  days  later  ordered  his  cannon  on 
board,  and  appointed  the  I5th  as  the  date  for  moving  down 
the  river.  Then  occurred  a  breach  between  the  commander  and 
his  troops.  Schuyler  asked  for  volunteers  to  undertake  the 
capture  of  the  enemy's  naval  force,  which  was  regarded  as 
the  chief  impediment  to  success,  particularly  a  large  schooner, 
well  manned,  and  well  provided  with  cannon.  This  proposition 
was  regarded  with  disfavor  and  suspicion  by  the  New  England 
troops,  who  had  no  love  for  the  New  Yorkers,  manifested  a 
strong  dislike  for  Schuyler,  and  showed  an  extreme  partiality 
for  their  own  leaders.  They  believed  that  Schuyler  feared 
the  enemy's  strength  on  land  and  water,  and  that  he  sought 
in  this  way  to  fix  the  responsibility  of  failure  on  them,  either 
through  their  refusal  to  undertake  the  enterprise,  or  their  de- 
feat in  the  attempt.  To  his  request,  therefore,  the  troops  made 
answer  that  they  were  all  volunteers,  ready  and  willing  to 
undertake  any  practicable  and  reasonable  enterprise. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  on  the  I5th,  at  which  it  appeared 
to  be  the  general  opinion  that  the  enemy  were  too  strong  to  be 
successfully  engaged.  Despondency  prevailed,  and  the  expedi- 
tion seemed  doomed  to  failure,  when  a  letter  was  received  from 
Major  Livingston,  announcing  his  success  in  another  quarter 


SIEGE   Ol'   ST.   JOHNS.  23 

and  promising  the  cooperation  of  three  thousand  Canadians. 
This  put  some  heart  into  the  leaders,  and  it  was  resolved  to 
prosecute  the  siege.  Col.  Waterbury  and  Major  Douglas,  with 
a  detail  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  men,  were  to  undertake 
the  capture  of  the  enemy's  schooner.  Sunday,  September  I7th, 
the  whole  army,  numbering  now  about  fourteen  hundred  men, 
again  set  out  for  St.  Johns,  and  encamped  behind  breastworks 
in  front  of  the  forts  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day.  On  the 
following  morning  Major  John  Brown  had  a  skirmish  with 
the  enemy.  Col.  Bedel  was  sent  to  his  assistance  with  five 
hundred  men,  who,  as  they  passed  the  forts,  were  fired  upon 
by  a  body  of  the  enemy,  which  issued  from  the  works,  but 
quickly  retreated  to  cover.  The  American  forces  now  took 
their  positions,  and  maintained  them  throughout  the  siege. 
Clearing  ground,  erecting  breastworks  and  batteries,  recon- 
noitering,  skirmishing,  recruiting,  kept  the  patriots  fully  occu- 
pied from  this  time  forward.  St.  Johns  was  invested  on  all 
sides.  Four  hundred  men,  detailed  for  siege  duty,  were  en- 
camped south  of  the  forts,  three  hundred  and  thirty  were 
assigned  to  the  water  craft,  and  six  hundred  were  posted  at 
points  on  the  north.  The  siege  was  now  fully  under  way,  but 
the  inclemency  of  the  season  and  the  unhealthful  location  of 
the  -camps  added  greatly  to  the  difficulties  of  the  task.  The 
ground  on  which  the  troops  were  encamped  was  low,  wet,  and 
miry ;  the  company  streets  were  muddy,  the  tents  flooded ; 
bushes,  barks,  and  swamp-flags  were  used  by  the  soldiers  to 
serve  as  bedding  and  flooring  for  the  tents. 

On  the  25th  of  September  (the  day  on  which  Col.  Ethan 
Allen  and  his  party  were  captured  in  their  ill-starred  attempt 
upon  Montreal)  the  American  batteries  opened  fire  upon  St. 
Johns,  and  a  heavy  bombardment  was  kept  up  all  day,  the 
forts  returning  the  fire  with  vigor.  From  this  time  till  October 
3d  the  weather  was  cold,  wet,  and  stormy ;  the  troops  suffered 
greatly  from  exposure ;  the  ground  of  the  encampment  was 
exceedingly  muddy  and  wet;  the  men,  chilled  and  miserable, 
were  succumbing  to  disease ;  discouraging  news  of  reverses 
in  other  quarters  added  to  the  gloom ;  the  ardor  of  the  Cana- 
dian allies  began  to  cool ;  their  Indian  auxiliaries  were  seen 
to  pass  within  the  enemy's  lines;  and,  to  crown  all,  the  stock 
of  provisions  began  to  fail.  Deeper  grew  the  gloom  in  the 


24  SIEGE   OF  ST.  JOHNS. 

patriot  camp,  as  their  hopes  seemed  about  to  be  extinguished 
by  the  total  failure  of  the  expedition. 

Nevertheless,  the  siege  continued.  October  4th  some  Cana- 
dians were  erecting  a  breastwork  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake 
when  they  were  attacked  by  a  body  of  regulars  from  the  fort, 
whom  they  defeated.  The  next  day  there  arrived  from  Ticon- 
deroga  a  gun  known  as  "  the  Old  Sow,"  which,  being  placed 
in  position,  threw  seven  shells  into  the  fort,  which  replied 
promptly  by  throwing  twenty- four  in  return.  About  the 
middle  of  the  month  another  council  of  war  was  called,  at 
which  it  was  resolved  to  erect  another  battery  on  the  east  side 
of  the  lake,  to  annoy  the  forts  and  destroy  the  enemy's  ship- 
ping. Montgomery  (now  in  command)  did  not  approve  of 
the  proposed  battery,  but  the  decision  of  his  officers  proved  to 
be  a  wise  one,  for  the  guns  of  this  work  eventually  destroyed 
the  enemy's  schooner  and  crippled  their  naval  power  beyond 
repair. 

Schuyler,  meantime,  had  returned  to  Albany  for  troops 
and  supplies,  and  further  encouragement  was  derived  from 
the  news  of  the  surrender  of  Chambly,  a  post  on  the  Sorel 
north  of  St.  Johns.  Three  days  later  (2ist)  the  prisoners 
taken  there  were  marched  past  the  forts;  on  the  26th  Gen. 
Wooster  arrived ;  another  battery  was  established  northwest 
of  the  fort;  the  watercraft,  carrying  cannon  and  heavy  bag- 
gage, dropped  down  the  river  to  the  north  of  the  fort  during 
the  night.  Several  days  were  spent  in  mounting  cannon  and 
preparing  for  action,  the  Connecticut  troops  being  detailed 
for  artillery  service.  When  all  preparations  had  been  made, 
the  east  and  west  batteries  opened  fire  between  9  and  10  A.  M. 
of  Wednesday,  November  ist,  and  a  terrific  bombardment 
closed  the  siege.  An  incessant  and  terrible  fire  was  kept  up 
for  six  hours,  during  which  time  one  thousand  cannon-balls 
and  more  than  one  hundred  shells  were  thrown  into  the 
enemy's  works.  In  the  evening  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  into 
the  fort,  with  proposals  for  its  surrender.  The  British  com- 
mander sought  to  delay  his  decision,  and  on  the  next  day 
another  flag  was  sent  in,  with  some  French  prisoners  taken 
at  Chambly.  After  compelling  these  men  to  swear  upon  the 
Holy  Evangels  to  the  truth  of  their  statements,  Major  Preston 
became  convinced  of  the  futility  of  further  resistance,  and 


SIEGE   OF  ST.   JOHNS.  2$ 

decided  to  enter  into  negotiations  for  the  surrender  of  the 
post  and  garrison  under  his  command. 

By  the  terms  of  the  surrender  the  garrison  were  to  lay 
down  their  arms  with  the  honors  of  war,  and  to  remain  pris- 
oners till  the  close  of  hostilities  or  until  exchanged.  The 
total  number  of  troops  surrendered  was  528 ;  all  the  vessels  of 
the  enemy,  with  war  material,  stores,  and  thirty-nine  brass 
and  iron  cannon,  were  also  made  trophies  of  war.  The  dis- 
tressing siege  of  fifty  days  was  at  an  end,  and  the  first  opera- 
tion in  the  proposed  conquest  of  Canada  was  completed.  The 
soldiers  suffered  more  from  fatigue  and  inclement  weather 
than  from  the  casualties  of  battle.  Although  the  cannon  of 
the  forts  had  thrown  2,500  shell  and  an  equal  quantity  of  ball, 
only  twenty  men  had  been  killed  on  the  American  side  during 
the  entire  siege ;  upwards  of  two  hundred,  however,  were  now 
on  the  sick  list. 

Immediately  after  the  surrender,  preparations  for  an  ad- 
vance on  Montreal  were  begun.  November  5th  the  Con- 
necticut regiments  turned  in  a  quantity  of  damaged  arms,  and 
about  four  hundred  of  the  captured  muskets,  good,  serviceable 
weapons,  with  bayonets  and  cartridge  boxes,  wrere  issued  to 
them.  On  the  6th  marching  orders  were  published,  and 
Waterbury's  regiment  moved  out  of  camp  at  n  A.  M.,  and 
was  soon  facing  the  discomforts  of  bad  weather  and  heavy 
roads.  The  other  troops  followed.  The  day  was  cloudy  and 
heavy ;  toward  night  it  rained  hard :  the  roads  were  muddy, 
and  the  level  country  about  them  flooded  with  water.  The  9th 
was  a  '"'  weather-breeder,"  and  on  and  after  the  following  day 
snow,  rain,  and  the  blustering  November  wind  were  the  con- 
stant accompaniments  of  the  march.  On  Monday,  November 
1 3th,  the  troops  marched  into  Montreal,  suffering  greatly 
from  the  hardships  and  exposures  of  the  journey.  Their  term 
of  service  was  soon  to  expire,  and  as  the  great  object  of  the 
expedition  was  by  no  means  yet  attained,  reenlistments  were 
solicited  by  the  commanding  generals.  But  the  soldiers  were 
mostly  sick  of  war  —  for  the  time,  at  least  —  as  well  as 
physically  exhausted,  and  the  prospect  of  returning  to  their 
distant  firesides  and  anxious  friends  was  too  alluring  to  be 
resisted.  A  few  of  the  hardiest  undertook  further  service, 
however,  and  as  Redding  was  represented  among  them,  we 
3 


26  ASSAULT  ON   QUEBEC. 

shall  follow  their  fortunes  further.  The  greater  part  of  the 
Connecticut  troops  were  discharged  on  the  28th  of  November, 
and  made  their  way  back  at  last  to  their  distant  homes. 

This  detailed  account  of  the  military  operations  around 
St.  Johns  is  given  for  the  reason  that  this  was  the  first  move- 
ment in  which  Redding  soldiers  participated.  The  general 
historian,  because  of  the  fruitless  results  of  the  Canadian  cam- 
paign, makes  very  brief  mention  of  it. 

Meantime  Arnold  had  been  making  his  terrible  wilderness 
march  through  the  wilds  of  Maine,  and  on  November  9th  had 
appeared  before  Quebec.  On  the  ist  of  December  Montgom- 
ery joined  him  with  about  three  hundred  men.  The  combined 
forces  numbered  less  than  one  thousand.  With  these  the 
American  commanders  undertook  the  reduction  of  Quebec. 
Their  artillery  being  too  light  for  siege  operations,  an  assault 
was  resolved  upon.  It  was  attempted  on  the  last  day  of  the 
year,  in  the  midst  of  a  furious  snowstorm.  The  attack  was 
made  in  four  divisions.  Montgomery,  with  the  New  York 
militia  and  part  of  the  New  England  troops,  moved  northeast 
from  Wolfe's  Cove,  passing  between  Cape  Diamond  and  the 
river,  in  the  face  of  a  strong  wind  which  blew  snow  and  hail 
into  the  faces  of  his  men,  and  along  a  narrow  and  slippery 
path,  where  a  false  step  might  precipitate  a  man  into  the  abyss 
below.  The  faces  of  the  men  were  covered  with  ice;  they 
could  see  but  a  few  feet  ahead ;  commands  could  not  be  heard 
in  the  howling  blast.  Montgomery  advanced  with  a  small 
body  of  men,  most  of  his  command  struggling  through  the 
drifts  with  scaling  ladders,  a  half  mile  in  the  rear.  The  first 
barrier  was  found  unguarded;  from  the  second  they  received 
a  discharge  of  grapeshot  which  killed  Montgomery  and  twelve 
others.  Repeated  volleys  of  bullets  and  grape  drove  back  the 
besiegers,  who  presently  abandoned  the  attack.  Arnold  ad- 
vanced promptly,  under  equal  risks,  to  a  similar  experience. 
The  storm  beat  furiously  upon  his  column,  whirling  great 
drifts  of  snow  into  the  path,  and  at  the  first  barrier  the  general 
received  a  wound  in  the  leg  which  incapacitated  him  for  fur- 
ther effort.  After  four  hours  of  stubborn  fighting,  Arnold's 
command  was  surrendered  by  its  leader,  Captain  Daniel  Mor- 
gan. The  other  columns  accomplished  nothing  of  value,  and 
were  captured  after  slight  resistance.  One-half  of  Arnold's 


ASSAULT  ON   QUEBEC.  2? 

force  became  prisoners  of  wrar,  and,  retreating  from  this  field 
of  misfortune,  he  took  refuge  behind  breastworks  of  snow 
in  the  vicinity  of  Quebec,  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of 
the  winter.  The  arrival  of  British  reinforcements  compelled 
the  evacuation  of  Canada  by  the  American  forces  in  the  follow- 
ing spring,  and  the  disheartened  remnant  of  the  army  of  the 
Northern  Campaign  made  its  final  retreat.  Soldiers  of  Red- 
ding were  among  those  who  endured  the  bitterest  privations 
of  this  ill-starred  expedition,  and  it  is  noticeable  that  few  of 
them  ever  re-entered  the  Continental  service,  though  many 
afterward  fought  manfully  in  defense  of  their  native  soil. 

During  this  campaign,  while  so  many  patriot  soldiers  were 
absent  from  the  town,  the  tories  seem  to  have  entertained 
thoughts  of  resistance.  They  armed  themselves,  and  had, 
perhaps,  some  secret  organization,  but  the  patriots,  alert  and 
active,  marched  through  the  countryside  under  the  command 
of  Lt.-Col.  Ichabod  Lewis,  disarmed  the  loyalists,  and  exacted 
from  them  a  promise  to  remain  strictly  neutral  during  the  con- 
flict. Reference  to  this  affair  is  found  in  the  town  records, 
under  date  of  December  13,  1775 : 

"  Voted,  that  this  Town  pay  by  way  of  Town  Rate  to  Peter  Fair- 
child  Thirteen  Pounds  Lawfull  money  for  victuals,  drink  and  Horse 
Keeping,  when  Col.  Ichabod  Lewis  &c  &c  &c  came  to  Redding  and 
Disarm'd  the  Tories." 


II. 

THE  LONG  ISLAND  CAMPAIGN. 

IF  the  failure  of  the  Canadian  expedition  brought  sadness 
to  the  people  of  Redding,  as  it  did  to  the  other  towns  of  the 
colony,  the  events  of  the  year  1776  were  destined  to  intensify 
that  feeling.  Washington  had  taken  command  of  the  Ameri- 
can army  at  Cambridge  in  July,  1775,  and  under  his  masterly 
management  military  operations  had  been  conducted  with  such 
vigor  and  success  that  by  the  middle  of  March,  1776,  the 
British  were  literally  squeezed  out  of  Boston.  Before  this 
event  Washington  had  foreseen  the  necessity  for  protecting 
New  York,  and  as  early  as  January,  1776,  had  called  for  troops 
to  go  to  the  defense  of  that  city.  Accordingly,  two  Connecti- 
cut regiments,  under  Colonels  David  Waterbury  and  Andrew 
Ward,  were  embodied,  and  Waterbury's  marched  into  New 
York  before  the  end  of  the  month.  In  its  ranks  was  Capt. 
Zalmon  Read,  again  leading  a  company  under  his  old  com- 
mander. The  regiment  remained  in  service  about  two  months, 
mainly  engaged  in  the  labor  of  erecting  fortifications  under 
the  direction  of  Gen.  Putnam.  March  i8th,  as  the  British 
were  leaving  Boston,  Washington  made  a  second  requisition 
for  troops,  under  which  two  more  regiments  were  to  be  raised 
in  Connecticut  for  the  defense  of  New  York,  eighteen  hundred 
men  being  drafted  from  the  militia  for  this  purpose.  The 
regiments  were  to  consist  of  ten  companies  each,  with  ninety 
men  to  a  company.  Fairfield  County  contributed  the  troops 
for  a  regiment  to  be  commanded  by  Col.  Gold  Selleck  Silli- 
man,  three  hundred  and  sixty  men  being  taken  from  the  Fourth 
Connecticut  militia,  whose  territorial  district  comprised  the 
towns  of  Fairfield,  Stratford,  and  Redding.  No  roster  of 
this  regiment  has  been  found,  but  Redding  men  undoubtedly 
served  in  it.  In  May  another  battalion,  raised  for  the  general 
defense  of  the  state,  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Philip  Burr  Bradley  —  of  it  we  shall  hear  further. 

On  leaving  Boston,  Howe,  the  British  commander,  had 
sailed  away  to  Halifax,  where  he  remained  long  enough  to 
recuperate  his  exhausted  troops,  and  to  obtain  reinforcements 


THE  LONG  ISLAND   CAMPAIGN.  2g 

from  England  and  the  continent.  In  June  it  became  known 
that  he  was  coming  back  after  his  revenge,  and  renewed  efforts 
were  made  to  raise  troops  to  oppose  him.  Six  battalions  were 
ordered  to  be  recruited  in  Connecticut  for  this  purpose.  These, 
with  Bradley's  Battalion,  were  brigaded  together  during  the 
Long  Island  campaign  under  Gen.  James  Wadsworth.  Silli- 
man's  was  designated  the  First,  and  Capt.  Read  was  one  of 
its  company  officers. 

On  the  loth  of  June,  1776,  Howe  left  Halifax,  and  on  the 
2d  of  July  his  sails  whitened  the  waters  of  the  lower  bay  of 
New  York.  Taking  possession  of  Staten  Island  he  leisurely 
prepared  for  an  attack.  Meanwhile,  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence was  published  to  the  country,  and  was  received  with 
joyous  acclamations  by  the  patriots  throughout  the  colonies. 
With  public  speeches,  bell-ringing,  and  bonfires  the  people 
hailed  the  event,  and,  no  doubt,  Redding  bore  its  part  in  the 
general  rejoicing. 

The  army  of  Ho  we 'consisted  of  about  twenty- four  thousand 
of  the  best  troops  of  Europe.  In  addition  to  the  seasoned 
veterans  of  the  Boston  campaign,  there  were  many  other  of 
the  finest  regiments  in  the  British  army  and  a  large  contingent 
of  Hessians  —  those  new  allies  whose  services  the  king  of 
Great  Britain  had  purchased  to  assist  in  the  subjugation  of 
his  rebellious  colonies.  Having  perfected  his  plans  and  prepa- 
rations, Howe  decided  to  attack  the  American  position  on 
Long  Island.  On  the  22d  of  August  he  sent  over  an  advance 
guard,  which  landed  without  opposition,  and  was  followed  by 
other  forces,  till  fifteen  thousand  infantry,  forty  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, and  a  regiment  of  dragoons  were  safely  established 
on  the  island.  Leaving  one  division  under  Maj.-Gen.  Grant 
encamped  at  Gravesend,  near  the  point  of  debarkation,  he 
posted  another,  under  Cornwallis,  at  Flatbush,  before  the 
center  of  the  American  lines,  and  a  third,  under  Clinton,  at 
Flatlands  in  rear  of  Cornwallis ;  and,  by  a  series  of  skirmishes, 
in  which  infantry  and  artillery  participated,  developed  the 
American  positions  along  the  Brooklyn  hills. 

The  campaign,  from  the  very  outset,  progressed  unfavor- 
ably for  the  patriots.  Washington's  poorly-equipped  and 
mostly  undisciplined  army  was  ill-fitted  for  the  task  it  was  to 
undertake.  Out  of  the  twenty-eight  thousand  men  composing 


3o  THE  LONG  ISLAXD   CAMPAIGN. 

it  at  the  outset  of  the  campaign,  so  many  were  sick  that  less 
than  twenty  thousand  remained  fit  for  duty.  New  York  island 
was  well  fortified,  but  the  works  at  Brooklyn  were  still  un- 
completed. The  weather  was  extremely  sultry  —  thunder- 
storms of  exceptional  violence  raged;  several  men  were  killed 
by  lightning  in  Washington's  camps. 

When  at  last  it  was  known  that  the  British  had  landed  in 
force  on  Long  Island,  Washington  advanced  his  troops  and 
strengthened  his  defenses  to  resist  them.  On  the  morning  of 
the  23d  he  sent  over  to  Brooklyn  a  reinforcement  of  six  regi- 
ments, Silliman's  battalion,  upwards  of  four  hundred  strong, 
being  one  of  the  first  to  cross.  It  was  ordered  down  into  a 
wooded  hill  near  Red  Hook,  to  prevent  any  further  landing 
at  that  point ;  but  on  the  25th  it  is  found  posted  a  half  mile  in 
front  of  Flatbush,  within  range  of  the  enemy's  cannon,  which 
were  playing  vigorously  on  some  parts  of  the  American  line; 
this  regiment,  however,  does  not  appear  to  have  suffered  seri- 
ously from  the  enemy's  fire. 

Ma j. -Gen.  John  Sullivan  commanded  on  the  Brooklyn  front 
at  this  time,  but  before  the  opening  of  the  battle  was  super- 
seded in  the  chief  command  by  Gen.  Putnam.  The  works 
under  his  charge  extended  from  northeast  to  southwest  out- 
side the  little  village  of  Brooklyn,  while  farther  out  a  range 
of  wooded  hills  stretched  in  the  same  direction,  for  a  distance 
of  five  or  six  miles,  between  the  Narrows  and  Jamaica.  Two 
roads  crossed  these  hills,  a  third  passed  round  their  western 
base,  while  a  fourth,  curving  from  east  to  north,  led  to  Jamaica. 
Before  this  range  lay  the  British  encampment,  and  along  its 
crest  and  in  the  passes  commanding  the  roads  the  American 
troops  were  posted.  Along  this  line  Washington  determined 
to  oppose  the  enemy's  advance,  and  gave  orders  that  the  passes 
should  be  defended  to  the  uttermost.  Several  skirmishes  oc- 
curred druing  the  five  days  that  the  British  lay  in  front  of 
the  hills,  but  no  decisive  movement  was  made  till  the  27th. 
On  the  25th  two  brigades  of  Hessians,  under  the  veteran  Gen- 
eral De  Heister,  were  brought  over  and  stationed  at  Flatbush. 
On  the  26th  the  troops  of  Cornwallis  were  secretly  withdrawn 
to  Flatlands,  and  at  9  p.  M.  the  combined  forces  of  Clinton  and 
Cornwallis  took  up  their  march  along  the  Jamaica  road.  At 
2  A.  M.  of  the  27th  Grant's  column  advanced  along  the  western 


BATTLE  OF  LONG  ISLAND.  3! 

road,  attacked  and  routed  the  American  detachment  at  the 
pass,  and  pressed  on  to  engage  the  troops  of  Sterling,  who 
commanded  on  that  part  of  the  field.  The  battle  now  began 
in  earnest,  and  the  American  forces  made  a  gallant  resistance. 
De  Heister  attacked  the  position  in  front  of  Flatbush,  which 
was  defended  by  an  inferior  force  under  Gen.  Sullivan,  while 
the  British  flanking  column,  pushing  forward  on  the  Jamaica 
road,  captured  a  patrol  which  was  looking  the  other  way, 
gained  Sullivan's  rear,  and  interposed  between  his  troops  and 
the  Brooklyn  lines.  Attacked  in  front  and  rear,  Sullivan's 
men  resisted  bravely,  but  ineffectually ;  a  portion  succeeded 
in  escaping  to  the  lines,  while  the  remainder  wrere  cut  to  pieces 
or  captured.  The  Hessians,  having  been  told  that  their  an- 
tagonists were  a  savage  race  of  beings,  who  would  give  no 
quarter,  used  their  bayonets  on  many  of  the  unfortunate  sol- 
diers whom  they  overtook,  in  many  instances  pinning  the 
hapless  riflemen  to  the  trees  —  a  deed  described  as  a  "  fine 
sight "  by  a  British  lieutenant  \vho  witnessed  it.  Sullivan 
himself  was  taken  prisoner  after  resistance  had  ceased,  and 
the  enemy  moved  westward  to  intercept  the  retreat  of  Sterling, 
who  had  successfully  contended  against  Grant's  column  till 
the  sounds  of  battle  in  his  rear  warned  him  that  he  must  fall 
back.  Hemmed  in  by  his  victorious  enemy,  the  American 
general  made  a  desperate  effort  to  escape,  but  was  finally  over- 
powered and  captured  with  more  than  a  thousand  of  his  men. 
Col.  Silliman's  regiment  somehow  extricated  itself  from  the 
conflict,  and  is  next  heard  of  in  position  somewhere  on  the  left 
of  the  Brooklyn  lines.  About  five  thousand  of  the  nine  thou- 
sand provincial  troops  on  the  island  were  engaged  in  the 
battle. 

The  remnant  of  the  forces  which  defended  the  exterior  lines 
having  fallen  back  upon  the  main  body,  Washington,  who  had 
come  upon  the  ground  during  the  battle,  made  dispositions 
for  defense.  The  British  advanced  close  up  to  the  American 
lines  and  began  to  throw  up  intrenchments  under  cover  of  a 
feint  of  attack,  cannon  and  musketry  again  coming  into  play. 
In  this  work  Silliman's  men  must  have  come  into  reasonably 
close  quarters  with  the  enemy,  though  no  general  engagement 
took  place.  The  patriot  soldiers  stood  in  the  trenches  during 
the  28th  and  29th  under  storms  of  rain,  accompanied  by 


32  RETREAT  FROM  NEW  YORK. 

thunder  and  lightning;  worn  out  with  the  fatigue  and  excite- 
ment of  battle,  their  arms  and  ammunition  rendered  unserv- 
iceable by  the  rain.  The  American  commander-in-chief,  at 
first  inclined  to  risk  a  decisive  engagement,  was  finally  con- 
vinced of  the  danger  of  his  situation,  and  the  evacuation  of 
the  island  was  agreed  on  in  a  council  of  war.  During  the 
night  of  the  2Qth  the  retreat  began,  and,  in  the  face  of  many 
difficulties,  all  the  troops  were  at  last  transported  to  New 
York  in  safety.  A  heavy  fog  providentially  screened  from 
the  view  of  the  enemy  the  embarkation  of  the  rearguard,  which 
pushed  off  from  the  shore  just  as  the  fog  was  rising,  George 
Washington  being  the  last  man  to  set  foot  in  the  last  boat. 
Quite  as  much  by  good  generalship  as  by  good  fortune,  he  had 
saved  both  a  good  cause  and  a  poor  army. 

After  reaching  New  York  the  troops  were  stationed  at  the 
various  defensive  points,  and  preparations  were  made  for 
another  grapple  with  the  enemy.  Silliman's  battalion  was 
posted  near  the  East  River,  probably  in  its  original  position 
in  the  earthworks  near  the  southern  end  of  the  island.  The 
British  fleet  now  cooperated  with  the  army  for  the  investment 
of  the  city  and  the  capture  of  Washington's  forces.  First, 
several  vessels  passed  the  obstructions  in  the  North  River, 
under  fire  of  the  forts  and  batteries,  took  soundings,  and  re- 
turned unharmed.  Then  troops  were  transported  up  the  East 
River,  also  under  fire,  without  injury.  By  September  i5th 
the  British  were  once  more  prepared  for  an  aggressive  move- 
ment. Before  noon  of  that  day  five  ships  of  war  were  drawn 
up  before  Kip's  Bay,  and,  under  cover  of  a  terrific  cannonade, 
a  landing  party  reached  the  shore.  The  bombardment  from 
the  vessels  so  demoralized  the  American  troops  stationed  at 
that  point  that  they  were  seized  with  panic  and  fled  in  the 
utmost  confusion,  despite  the  efforts  of  Washington  and  other 
officers  to  rally  them.  They  were  Connecticut  men,  but  re- 
flected no  credit  on  their  state  that  day.  The  enemy  landed 
in  force,  and  Washington  was  compelled  to  withdraw  his 
troops  to  Harlem.  Putnam's  division,  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  city,  was  in  great  danger  of  being  cut  off  and  captured, 
but  under  the  fortunate  guidance  of  Aaron  Burr,  and  by  a 
combination  of  speed  and  secrecy  in  its  movements,  was 
enabled  to  evade  the  British  and  reach  the  main  body  at 


BATTLE   OF   WHITE  PLAINS. 


33 


Harlem  in  safety.  Near  Bloomingdale  the  retreating  troops 
encountered  a  detachment  of  the  enemy,  but  Silliman's  bat- 
talion, which  covered  the  retreat  of  the  division,  formed  in 
line  and  drove  the  assailants  away. 

A  temporary  check,  given  to  the  enemy  on  Harlem  Heights 
the  next  day,  in  some  degree  restored  the  spirits  of  the  army, 
but  before  a  month  had  passed  Washington's  position  became 
untenable.  British  vessels  passed  up  the  North  River  on 
October  9th,  beyond  the  right  flank  of  the  American  army, 
and  three  days  later  the  greater  part  of  Howe's  troops  were 
carried  by  water  to  Throgg's  Neck,  on  the  Westchester  shore 
of  the  Sound.  Washington  concentrated  his  army  at  White 
Plains,  entrenched,  and  waited  for  the  British  advance.  On 
the  28th  the  royal  army  arrived,  and  before  noon  had  engaged 
some  advance  parties  of  the  Americans,  among  whom  was  a 
portion  of  Silliman's  battalion.  The  principal  part  of  the 
engagement  was  fought  at  Chatterton  Hill,  on  the  American 
left.  Four  thousand  British  and  Hessians  advanced  up  the 
steep  face  of  the  hill,  and  were  driven  back  in  confusion  by  a 
shower  of  bullets.  The  action  bid  fair  to  become  a  repetition 
of  that  at  Bunker  Hill,  but  the  enemy  changed  their  point  of 
attack,  the  ever-unreliable  militia  gave  way,  and  the  British 
carried  the  position. 

And  now,  as  the  opposing  forces  rested  on  their  arms  after 
the  action,  there  occurred  an  incident  of  singular  and  pathetic 
interest.  A  flag  of  truce  passes  between  the  lines  and,  under 
its  protection,  two  officers  meet  in  the  open  field  and  engage 
in  earnest  conversation,  and,  could  we  hear  the  words  they 
speak,  we  need  not  marvel  if  the  name  of  a  woman,  tenderly 
spoken,  passes  often  between  them,  for  the  sturdy  young 
loyalist,  who  has  sacrificed  home  and  happiness  for  the  cause 
of  his  king,  is  her  husband,  and  the  grim-visaged  patriot  cap- 
tain —  her  father. 

Howe,  fearing  the  strength  of  Washington's  new  position, 
remained  inactive  during  the  following  day,  waiting  for  rein- 
forcements. The  next  day  it  rained,  and  Howe,  for  this  reason 
prevented  from  advancing,  delayed  the  attack.  W'hen  day 
again  dawned  he  prepared  to  advance,  but  his  antagonist  was 
gone.  Washington  had  once  more  wisely  decided  not  to  risk 
an  engagement,  and,  leaving  a  few  pickets  to  replenish  his 


34 


CAPTURE  OF  FORT  WASHINGTON. 


watchfires,  had  quietly  withdrawn  to  the  heights  of  North 
Castle,  two  miles  farther  back,  whither  Howe  did  not  think  it 
advisable  to  follow  him.  He  accordingly  abandoned  the  pur- 
suit, and  turned  his  attention  to  the  task  of  gaining  complete 
possession  of  New  York  island. 

Fort  Washington  was  now  the  only  post  on  the  island  in  the 
possession  of  the  Americans.  It  was  a  strong  work,  occupying, 
with  its  outworks,  an  elevation  of  considerable  height-  and 
length  near  the  north  end  of  the  island  and  along  the  shore 
of  the  Hudson.  Col.  Robert  Magaw,  the  commander  of  the 
fort,  a  brave  and  capable  officer,  was  of  the  opinion  that  the 
work  could  be  held  against  the  enemy;  Greene  and  other 
officers  were  of 'the  same  opinion.  Washington,  though  ques- 
tioning the  advisability  of  maintaining  the  position,  and  doubt- 
ful of  the  ability  of  his  men  to  hold  it,  deferred  their  with- 
drawal till  the  near  approach  of  the  British  rendered  retreat 
impracticable.  The  fort  was  garrisoned  principally  by  Penn- 
sylvania troops,  but  in  addition  to  these  were  a  hundred  artil- 
lerymen, Rawlings'  Maryland  Rifle  Battalion,  Knowlton's 
Rangers,  and  several  companies  of  Bradley's  Battalion,  Wads- 
worth's  Brigade,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  strong.  One 
of  these  companies  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Elijah  Abel  of 
Fairfield,  and  there  were  several  Redding  men  in  its  ranks. 
The  entire  garrison  numbered  about  three  thousand  men. 
Howe  invested  the  works,  and  on  the  I5th  of  November  sent 
a  summons  to  surrender.  Col.  Magaw  refused,  declaring  his 
intention  to  defend  the  post  to  the  last  extremity.  On  the  i6th 
the  British  moved  to  the  attack  in  four  columns.  The  Hes- 
sians, under  Rail  and  Knyphausen,  attacked  on  the  north, 
where  Rawlings'  riflemen  were  posted;  Matthews  and  Corn- 
wallis,  with  the  light  infantry  and  grenadiers,  approached 
from  the  east;  Col.  Sterling,  with  the  42d  Highlanders,  made 
a  diversion  on  the  south ;  and  a  strong  corps  under  Lord  Percy 
assaulted  from  the  west.  The  Hessians  faced  a  destructive 
fire,  as  they  forced  their  way  through  thickets  and  abatis,  and. 
stung  by  the  determined  resistance  they  encountered,  plied  their 
favorite  weapon  freely,  while,  on  the  opposite  heights  at  Fort 
Lee,  surrounded  by  the  anxious  faces  of  Greene,  Putnam, 
Knox,  and  other  officers,  George  Washington  stood  and  cried 
like  a  child  as  he  saw  his  soldiers  fall  beneath  the  bavonets  of 


CAPTURE  OF  FORT  WASHINGTON. 


35 


the  Hessian  grenadiers.  The  British  forces  gradually  closed 
in  on  their  opponents,  driving  them  into  the  interior  of  the 
works,  where  they  were  so  crowded  together  that  further  re- 
sistance became  impossible.  Colonel  Magaw,  realizing  the 
hopelessness  of  his  situation,  surrendered  the  fort,  with  about 
twenty-eight  hundred  men.  The  American  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty,  thfat  of  the  British 
forces  four  hundred  and  fifty,  two-thirds  of  the  casualties 
being  among  the  Hessians,  who  evidently  bore  the  brunt  of 
the  fighting. 

At  the  end  of  the  campaign  the  Americans  had  lost  every 
post  for  which  they  had  contended,  while  the  British  were 
firmly  established  in  New  York,  not  to  leave  it  till  the  flag  of 
England  was  lowered  at  the  peace  of  1783.  Washington  with- 
drew his  rapidly  diminishing  forces  to  New  Jersey,  and  the 
darkness  of  despair  fell  upon  the  hopes  of  the  patriots,  through 
which  no  ray  of  light  penetrated  till  the  twin  stars  of  Trenton 
and  Princeton  lit  the  gloom.  Then  the  patriots  again  took 
courage,  and  came  forward  to  renew  the  struggle  for  freedom. 
Again  Washington  appealed  to  Congress  for  the  establishment 
of  a  regular  army,  and  this  time  his  entreaties  did  not  pass 
unheeded. 


III. 

THE  DANBURY  RAID. 

CONVINCED  at  last,  by  bitter  experience,  that  success  was 
impossible  with  raw  levies  under  short-term  enlistments.  Con- 
gress finally  authorized  the  establishment  of  a  regular  army, 
of  which  Connecticut  wras  to  furnish  eight  regiments  of  in- 
fantry, enlisted  generally  for  the  term  of  three  years  or  the  war. 
Recruiting  immediately  began  throughout  the  state,  and  Red- 
ding cheerfully  undertook  her  share  of  patriotic  duty : 

"April  2,  1777.  —  Voted  that  Whereas  this  meeting  has  Appointed 
Mefsrs  Wm  Hawley  Zalmon  Read,  Thadeus  Benedict  David  Jackson, 
Gershom  Morehonse  Stephen  Betts  Jr.  Wm  Heron  and  Dan1  Mallery 
a  Comtee  to  hire  a  Number  of  Soldiers  to  Serve  in  the  Continental 
Army  that  the  Sum  or  Sums  the  said  Comtee  promise  to  or  do  pay  to 
those  Soldiers  that  do  Inlist  themselves  as  Soldiers  to  serve  in  said 
Army  a  bounty  Over  and  above  what  the  Governments  bounty  is  shall 
be  paid  by  way  of  Town  Rate  and  the  Selectmen  are  Ordered  and 
Desired  to  make  a  Rate  to  Collect  the  Money  by  said  Comtee  paid  or 
promised  to  Soldiers  by  them  Inlisted  for  the  Service  afore  said  Also 
vote  that  Mefsrs  Hezekiah  Sanford  Seth  Sanford  Dan11  Mallery  Sam11 
Smith  Wm  Hawley  Stephen  Betts  Jur  Jonathan  Couch  Stephen  Gold 
and  Hezekiah  Read  be  a  Comtfe  to  take  Care  of  the  famalies  of  those 
Soldiers  that  are  in  the  Service  of  their  Country  Agreeable  to  the  Gov- 
enor  and  Council  of  Safety  their  Resolve." 

Again  Redding  soldiers  were  enrolled  in  defense  of  their 
country,  and  most  of  them  were  assigned  to  the  Fifth  regi- 
ment of  the  new  establishment.  One  company  of  this  regiment 
was  commanded  by  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford  of  Redding,  who 
had  served  as  lieutenant  under  Capt.  Read  in  previous  cam- 
paigns. About  a  dozen  Redding  men  appear  on  the  company 
roll: 

Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford  Holmes,  Samuel  Burrett,  Israel 

SERGEANTS.  Starr,  William  Butler,  John 

Fowler,  Elisha  MUSICIAN.  Burns,  James 

Mann,  Samuel  French,  Trueman  Burlock,  David 

Street,  John  PRIVATES.  Bidwell,  Ashbell 

CORPORALS.  Adams,  Abraham  Ben,  Solomon 

Baker,  Bartholomew  Bixby,  Elias  Barnes,  Jonathan 

Gilbert,  Joel  Butler,  Ephraim  Brown,  Patrick 

Hopkins,  Henry  Burrett,  Abij ah  Brown,  Luke 


THE  DANBURY  RAID. 


37 


Bronson,  Asa 
Condrick,  John 
Chilman,  Thomas 
Cornelius,  Toto 
Coley,  Nathan 
Canfield,  Daniel 
Collins,  Dennis 
Clark,  Walter 
Downs,  Benjamin 
Fleet,  William 
Fisher,  Christopher 
Freeman,  David 
Green,  James 
Gorham,  Ned 
Goodwin,  Jonathan 
Hughes,  Thomas 
Hawley,  Joseph 
Hayes,  John 
Hendricks,  Nathan 
Hale,  Joseph 
Hitchcock,  John 
Jones,  John 
June,  Justice 


Jacklin,  Ebenezer 
Knap,  Aaron 
Kellis,  Peter 
Kelly  (or  Kellsee)  John 
Keeler,  Henry 
Mitchell,  William 
Meeker,  Stephen 
Mead,  Jeremiah 
McGregory,  John 
Nickerson,  Eliphas 
Newton,  William 
Nash,  Ebenezer 
Patchin,  Ebenezer 
Parsons,  Bartholomew 
Phelps,  Elijah      + 
Perwiggin,  Solomon 
Peters,  Thomas  (or 

Solomon) 
Platt,  Joseph 
Roberts,  John 
Robinson,  Nathaniel 
Rowland,  Jack 
Remington,  Stephen 

[Rec 


Renn,  Solomon 
Rockwell,  John 
Sears,  Joseph 
Sturges,  Augustus 
Starr,  John 
Sprout,  John 
Scott,  Moses 
Soomer,  Shubal 
Scott,  Peter 
Tuttle,  Peter 
Trueman,  David 
Thomas,  Gregory 
Williams,  Jabez 
Williams,  John 
Whitney,  Ezekiel 
Weeks,  Micajah 
Wood,  Simeon 
\Vawson,  Thomas 
Williams,  Henry 
Whitney,  Thomas 
Wheeler,  Ephraim 
Whitney,  Josiah  A. 

Ct.  Men  in  Rev.] 


The  recruits  for  the  Second  and  Fifth  regiments  of  the 
Continental  Line  were  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Danbury.  At 
this  place  a  large  magazine  of  military  stores  was  also  estab- 
lished, with  smaller  ones  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  British 
spies,  circulating  through  the  country,  reported  this  fact  to 
the  British  commander  at  Xew  York,  and  a  movement  was  at 
once  projected  to  effect  the  destruction  of  these  stores,  and 
thereby  add  another  discouraging  reverse  to  the  list  of  disas- 
ters already  suffered  by  the  patriot  cause.  The  first  indication 
of  activity  in  this  direction  is  found  in  the  following  order : 

"  Head  Quarters,  New  York,  April  20th,  1777. 

Governor  Tryon  having  been  pleased  to  offer  his  Services  to  Com- 
mand the  Provincial  Troops  in  this  Province,  is  appointed  to  that  Com- 
mand, with  the  Rank  of  Major  Gen1  of  Provincial  Forces,  and  is  to  be 
obey'd  as  such. 

Captn  Wemyss  of  the  4bth  Reg1  is  appointed  Aide  de  Camp  to  Major 
Gen1  Tryon,  and  is  to  be  observed  as  such. 

Lieu1  Bird  i6th  Reg*  is  appointed  Supernumerary  Aide  de  Camp, 
to  Major  Gen1  Tryon,  and  is  to  be  observed  as  such." 

Soon  after,  all  was  in  readiness,  and  the  embarkation  of  the 


38  THE  DAN  BURY  RAID. 

forces  began.     The  commander-in-chief  then  issued  an  order 
placing  Gen.  Tryon  in  command  of  the  expedition : 

"  Head  Quarters,  22d  April,  1777. 

Major  Gen1  Tryon  is  appointed  to  Command  the  Troops,  embarked 
this  day  upon  an  Expedition;  All  reports  to  be  made  to  him,  and  all 
Troops  ordered  to  join  that  Armament,  will  put  themselves  under 
his  Command." 

Admiral  Howe's  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty 
shows  how  the  force  was  transported,  and  indicates  the  meas- 
ures that  were  taken  to  deceive  the  patriots  regarding  the  ob- 
jective point  of  the  expedition : 

"  Number  28. 

Eagle  Off  New  York 

April  the  23d  1777. 
Sir 

The  General  determining  on  an  Attempt  to  destroy  a  very  con- 
siderable magazine  said  to  be  formed  by  the  Rebels  in  the  Province  of 
Connecticut,  several  Regiments  were  embarked  in  twelve  Transports 
the  2ist  Instant  to  be  landed  on  the  Coast  of  that  Province,  as  Gov- 
ernor Tryon,  who  commands  the  Detachment,  should  require. 

I  have  committed  the  Conduct  of  the  Naval  Department  to  Captain 
Duncan  of  the  Eagle.  He  is  embarked  in  the  Senegal,  and  has  the 
Swan  also  under  his  Command:  Those  Sloops  being  deemed  of  suf- 
ficient Force,  and  most  proper  for  the  intended  Operation. 

A  Diversion  was  thought  fit  to  be  made  at  the  same  time,  up  the 
North  River.  Twelve  Transports  in  which  a  small  Corps  of  Troops 
are  embarked,  attended  by  the  Ambuscade,  Mermaid,  Daphne,  Rose 
and  Dependance  Galley,  have  been  appointed  for  that  Service. 

The  two  Detachments  sailed  to  proceed  according  to  their  respective 
Destinations  yesterday. 

I  am,  with  great  Consideration, 
Sir, 

Your  most  obedient 

humble   servant, 

HOWE. 
Philip  Stephens  Esqr 

Secretary  of  the  Admiralty." 

And  to  Lord  George  Germain  Gen.  Howe  gives  further 
details  of  the  number  and  object  of  the  expeditionary  forces: 

'•'  No.  51  Duplicate 

New  York,  24th  April,  1777. 
My  Lord, 

A  detached  Corps  of  Troops  consisting  of  1800  Rank  and  File. 
having  embarked  in  Transports,  proceeded  from  home  yesterday,  with 


THE  DANBURY  RAID. 


39 


six  Field  Pieces,  under  the  Command  of  Governor  Tryon,  who  has 
accepted  of  the  Rank  of  Major  General  of  Provincials.  The  Design  is 
to  destroy  a  large  Magazine  of  Provisions  and  Military  Stores  formed 
by  the  Enemy  at  Danbury  in  Connecticut.  Brigadier  General  Agnew 
and  Sir  William  Erskine  are  upon  this  service,  the  Naval  Part  of  which 
is  under  the  Conduct  of  Captain  Duncan,  Commander  of  His  Majesty's 
Ship  Eagle.  It  is  proposed  that  the  Debarkation  should  be  made  at  or 
near  Norwalk,  which  is  Twenty  Miles  to  the  southward  of  Danbury, 
and  I  hope  to  have  the  Honor  of  reporting  to  your  Lordship  the  Success 
of  this  Expedition  in  my  next  Dispatch." 

Meantime  the  fleet  of  two  sloops-of-war  and  twelve  flat- 
boats,  bearing  eighteen  hundred  troops,  six  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  the  necessary  complement  of  horses,  besides  general 
officers,  seamen,  etc.,  had  Weighed  anchor  and  proceeded  up 
the  Sound.  The  people  of  the  Connecticut  shore  towns  appear 
to  have  had  no  knowledge  of  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  and 
were  evidently  taken  by  surprise.  Rumors  of  hostile  move- 
ments had  been  rife  for  some  time,  but  do  not  seem  to  have 
aroused  anxiety.  Bad  weather  may  have  obscured  the  passage 
of  the  fleet;  anyway,  there  is  no  indication  that  the  patriots 
were  on  their  guard. 

On  the  evening  of  the  25th  the  point  selected  for  landing 
was  reached,  and  the  passage  to  the  shore  was  immediately 
commenced.  Gen.  Tryon's  orders,  here  inserted,  show  how 
the  landing  was  to  be  performed: 

"  Senegal,  April  23d,  1777. 

Major  Gen1  Tryon's  Orders. 

Capt.  Wemyss  of  the  4Oth  Reg*  is  appointed  to  Act  as  Adjut*  Gen1 
to  the  Corps  under  his  Command. 

The  Troops  to  land  in  three  divisions.  — 

The  first,  consisting  of  the  4th  &  15th  Regts  under  the  Command  of 
Lieu1  Col°  Bird,  who  is  to  occupy  the  most  advantageous  Ground  to 
cover  the  landing. 

The  2a  consisting  of  the  23d  &  27th  Regts  under  the  Command  of 
Lieu1  Col°  Maxwell. 

The  3d  consisting  of  the  44th  &  64th  Regts  under  the  Command  of 
Major  Hope. 

General  Agnew  will  be  pleased  to  disembark,  any  time  after  the  ist 
division  has  made  good  their  landing,  &  give  the  other  divisions  such 
directions  in  regard  to  their  forming  as  he  may  think  necessary. 

Two  Pieces  of  Artillery  to  be  landed  with  the  Ist  division,  &  the 
Remainder  to  follow  afterwards  as  soon  as  possible. 

As  soon  as  the  Ist  Division  has  made  good  their  landing,  the  Dra- 
goons &  Artillery  to  dissembark. 


40  THE  DAN  BURY  RAID. 

It  is  recommended  to  the  Officers,  to  keep  their  Men,  as  silent  a^ 
possible. 

The  Troops  to  carry  on  Shore  with  them,  One  Days  Provision 
dressed,  four  days  bread,  a  proportionable  quantity  of  Salt  (which  the 
Men  are  to  be  carefull  off,)  and  two  days  allowance  of  Rum,  which  the 
Corns  Officers  of  Regts  will  take  care,  to  have  mixed  with  Water. 

So  soon  as  the  whole  is  landed,  the  Corps  to  form  two  Brigades. 
The  1st  consisting  of  the  4th,  15th  &  23d  Regts  to  be  Commanded  by  Gen1 
Agnew. 

The  2d  consisting  of  the  27th  44th  &  64th  to  be  Commanded  by  Lieu1 
Col°  Maxwell. 

As  the  Comr  in  Chief  was  pleased  in  his  Order  of  the  21st  inst, 
expressly  to  forbid  Plundering ;  It  would  make  Gen1  Tryon  very 
unhappy,  should  the  Troops  give  him  any  occasion,  to  carry  them  into 
execution,  which  the  nature  &  importance  of  the  present  Service  will 
require  him  to  do :  He  therefore  places  his  full  confidence  that  the 
Spirit  of  Honor  which  has  so  eminently  distinguished  the  respective 
Corps  now  under  his  Commd  will,  with  the  known  Attention  of  the 
Officers,  sufficiently  incite  them  to  a  strict  obedience  to  the  said  Order. 

No  Boat  is  to  be  suffered  to  go  on  Shore,  till  the  Troops  land,  with- 
out leave  from  Gen1  Tryon  or  Captn  Duncan. 

All  Horses  that  can  be  procured  at  landing,  to  be  brought  imme- 
diately to  Gen1  Tryon." 

As  they  disembark,  it  will  be  interesting  to  take  note  of 
the  leaders  and  organizations  composing  the  expedition. 

William  Tryon,  royal  governor  of  New  York,  major-gen- 
eral of  loyalist  provincials,  and  commander  of  this  expedition, 
was  a  soldier  by  profession,  and  an  officer  in  the  regular  estab- 
lishment of  the  British  army.  He  was  at  this  time  about  fifty- 
two  years  of  age.  He  had  been  lieutenant-governor  and 
governor  of  the  province  of  North  Carolina,  where  he  had 
shown  much  ability  in  the  management  of  affairs,  having 
suppressed  with  great  severity  the  uprising  of  the  "  Regula- 
tors "  in  1771.  His  military  operations  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
York  were  conducted  with  judgment  and  skill.  Opinions  vary 
as  to  his  personal  character.  By  some  he  is  represented  as 
honorable,  courageous,  and  humane;  these  qualities  do  not 
always  appear  in  his  actions,  as  recorded  in  the  accounts  of 
his  military  expeditions.  We  shall  meet  him  on  several  other 
occasions  on  the  Connecticut  coast. 

Major-General  Sir  William  Erskine,  quartermaster-general 
of  the  British  army,  was  an  officer  who  had  fought  at  Fontenoy 
in  his  earlier  years,  and  had  commanded  a  brigade  at  the  battle 
of  Long  Island.  He  accompanied  Tryon's  expedition  in  the 


THE  DAN  BURY  RAID.  4i 

double  capacity  of  quartermaster-general  and  second  in  com- 
mand. 

Brigadier-General  James  Agnew  came  to  America  as  a 
lieutenant-colonel  in  1775.  and  led  a  brigade  in  the  fighting  on 
Long  Island.  He  superintended  the  disembarkation  of  troops 
at  Compo,  and  commanded  the  first  brigade  of  Try  on 's  ex- 
pedition. We  shall  hear  of  him  once  more. 

Of  the  regimental  organizations  composing  the  expedition, 
the  4th.  or  King's  Own  Regiment  of  Foot,  was  the  first  to 
disembark.  This  was  one  of  the  oldest  regiments  in  the  British 
sen-ice,  having  been  organized  in  1680.  When  the  troubles 
between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country  began  to  develop 
into  open  hostility,  the  4th  was  selected  for  senice  in  X'orth 
America,  and  sailed  for  Boston  April  17,  1774.  A  portion  of 
the  regiment  was  at  Concord  and  Lexington;  it  lost  about 
fifty  men  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  participated  in  the  battles  around 
Xew  York. 

The  1 5th  Foot,  later  designated  the  Yorkshire  East  Riding 
Regiment,  was  formed  in  1685.  It  came  to  America  early  in 
1776,  and  sen-ed  through  the  Long  Island  campaign. 

The  23d  Foot,  or  Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers,  was  recruited  in 
1689  in  Wales  and  the  adjoining  counties.  It  was  sent  to 
America  in  1773,  and  landed  at  Xew  York,  but  in  the  following 
year  was  ordered  to  Boston  to  strengthen  the  garrison  under 
General  Gage. 

Four  companies  of  this  regiment  were  in  the  affair  at  Lex- 
ington, where  the  British  troops  suffered  so  severely,  returning, 
it  is  said,  "  having  their  tongues  hanging  out  of  their  mouths 
like  dogs  after  a  chase."  The  remaining  companies  formed 
part  of  the  rescuing  column  under  Lord  Percy.  The  regiment 
suffered  heavily  at  Bunker  Hill,  the  grenadier  company  having 
but  five  men  left  out  of  a  total  of  forty-nine  who  went  into 
action,  and  it  is  also  stated  that  but  one  commissioned  officer 
of  the  battalion  sunrived.  In  the  actions  of  the  campaign  of 
1776.  on  Long  Island  and  around  X'ew  York,  the  23d  bore  a 
part,  and,  at  its  close,  went  into  winter  quarters  on  Xew  York 
island.  Its  colonel  was  Major-General  Sir  William  Howe, 
commander-in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in  X'orth  America, 
but  the  officer  who  led  it  in  the  Danbury  Raid  is  not  known. 
The  Fusiliers  afterward  fought  at  the  Brandywine,  German- 
4 


42  THE  DAN  BURY  RAID. 

town,  Monmouth,  New  Haven,  Fairfield,  Norwalk,  the  siege 
of  Charleston,  S.  C,  Cafhden,  Guilford  Court  House,  and 
finally  surrendered  at  Yorktown. 

This  regiment  possessed  a  pet  —  or,  as  it  would  now  be 
called,  a  mascot  —  which  was  nothing  less  than  that  pug- 
nacious creature  a  goat ;  a  goat  with  gilded  horns,  and  a 
battle  record  of  its  own,  for  tradition  says  that  the  animal 
accompanied  the  regiment  up  the  slopes  of  Bunker  Hill,  and 
came  down  again  unscathed.  It  is  not  known  to  have  been 
with  the  Tryon  expedition,  and  was  probably  left  behind  at 
New  York  with  the  impedimenta  of  the  regiment.  It  is,  at 
least,  pleasant  to  think  that  this  wicked  and  dreadful  goat 
was  not  permitted  to  forage  upon  our  terror-stricken  towns- 
people. 

A  detachment  of  the  i/th  Light  Dragoons,  twelve  in  num- 
ber, next  claims  our  attention.  This  small  body  of  men  was 
probably  employed  mainly  for  scouting  purposes.  The  country 
was  at  that  time  more  heavily  wooded  than  now,  the  roads 
poor,  and  the  whole  territory  traversed  by  the  expedition  of 
a  rough  and  broken  character,  unsuited  to  the  maneuvers  of 
cavalry,  so  that  the  movements  of  such  troops  were  mainly 
restricted  to  rapid  advances  upon  points  where  some  temporary 
advantage  might  be  gained.  The  appearance  of  thes*e  men 
was  worthy  of  note,  as  in  uniform,  equipment,  and  discipline 
they  represented  the  flower  of  the  British  army.  Information 
gleaned  from  various  sources  indicates  that  the  dress  and 
equipment  of  each  horseman  was  as  here  described :  Upon  his 
head  a  metallic  cap,  sword-proof,  surmounted  by  a  cone,  from 
which  a  long,  chestnut-colored  plume  fell  to  his  shoulders. 
Upon  the  front  of  the  cap  was  a  death's  head,  under  which 
was  inscribed  the  words  "  Or  Glory."  A  red  coat,  faced  with 
white,  with  an  epaulette  on  each  shoulder,  buckskin  breeches 
of  a  bright  yellow,  black  knee  boots,  and  spurs  completed  the 
costume.  A  long  sword  swung  at  his  side,  and  a  carbine  was 
carried,  muzzle  down,  in  a  socket  at  his  stirrup.  These  troops 
were  models  of  discipline  and  military  splendor,  and,  mounted 
on  handsome  chargers,  sixteen  hands  high,  presented  a  most 
formidable  appearance. 

The  27th  Foot,  or  Enniskillens,  as  it  was  called,  was  evi- 
dently an  Irish  battalion. 


THE  DAN  BURY  RAID.  43 

The  44th  was  later  known  in  England  as  the  East  Essex 
Regiment. 

The  64th  Foot  was  a  grenadier  regiment,  wearing  high 
grenadier  caps  and  red  coats  faced  with  black. 

Six  pieces  of  the  4th  Royal  Artillery  also  accompanied  the 
expedition. 

Another  organization,  of  which  no  mention  is  made  in 
Tryon's  orders,  and  which  seems  to  have  been  in  some  degree 
an  independent  body,  acting  mainly  under  the  orders  of  its 
colonel,  also  formed  part  of  this  expedition.  This  was  the 
Prince  of  Wales'  American  Volunteers,  a  recently-recruited 
loyalist  regiment,  of  especial  interest  to  the  readers  of  this 
volume,  as  it  contained  a  considerable  number  of  Redding 
tories,  and,  indeed,  was  largely,  if  not  entirely,  composed  of 
Fairfield  County  loyalists.  Its  commander  was  Montfort 
Browne,  of  whom  it  is  known  that  he  had  been  the  royal 
governor  of  the  Bahamas,  had  been  taken  prisoner  at  some 
early  period  of  the  war,  and  was  exchanged  for  Major-General 
Lord  Sterling,  an  American  officer  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Long  Island.  Special  inducements  were  offered  to  loyalists 
to  join  this  corps,  as  shown  by  an  advertisement  in  one  of  the 
royalist  papers  of  New  York,  under  date  of  March  3,  1777: 

"  The  Royal  and  Hon.  Brigade  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  Loyal  Amer. 
Volunteers  quartered  at  the  famous  and  plentiful  town  of  Flushing. 
Recruits  taken  also  at  Wm  Betts,  sign  of  the  Gen.  Amherst,  Jamaica. 
£5  bounty  and  100  acres  of  land  on  the  Mississippi,  for  3  yrs.  or  during 
the  rebellion.  Present  pay  and  free  quarters.  Clothing,  arms  and 
accouterments  supplied." 

This  body  was  very  popular  with  the  loyalists,  and,  says 
one  writer,  "  twenty  in  a  drove  would  come  from  New  England 
to  enlist  in  Brown's  corps." 

By  ten  o'clock  at  night  all  were  ashore,  and  the  advance 
immediately  began.  According  to  the  British  accounts,  their 
march  was  entirely  unopposed  from  the  beginning,  but  an 
American  authority  states  that  soon  after  their  landing  a  com- 
pany of  militia  came  over  the  crest  of  a  hill  in  their  front, 
fired  a  single  volley,  and  disappeared.  But  this  volley  evi- 
dently did  no  damage,  and  the  British  march  was  practically 
unopposed.  Moving  northward  on  the  route  to  Danbury,  they 
continued  the  march  into  the  parish  of  Weston,  in  the  north- 


44  THE  DAN  BURY  RAID, 

western  part  of  the  township  of  Fairfield,  where  a  halt  of 
several  hours  appears  to  have  been  made,  evidently  for  the 
purpose  of  resting  the  troops. 

A  wave  of  terror  preceded  their  advance.  As  the  news 
that  a  large  British  force  was  actually  advancing  through  the 
country  was  spread  abroad  by  swift  messengers,  the  house- 
holders, panic-stricken,  roused  their  families  from  slumber 
and  sought  safety  in  flight.  To  right  and  left  and  far  in  ad- 
vance of  the  British  column,  men  loaded  their  household  goods 
upon  carts  and  wagons,  and  removed  them,  with  their  wives 
and  children,  to  points  of  supposed  security.  The  excitement 
must  have  been  intense,  and  the  efforts  of  citizens  to  insure 
the  safety  of  their  families  and  possessions  doubtless  added 
greatly  to  the  difficulty  of  rallying  troops  for  defense.  Many 
of  the  inhabitants  elected  to  remain  where  they  were,  trusting 
to  fortune  and  the  good  will  of  their  loyalist  friends  to  insure 
them  protection  against  violence. 

Meantime,  messengers  had  been  sent  in  all  directions,  sum- 
moning the  militia  of  the  district  to  take  up  arms  in  defense 
of  their  homes.  Generals  Wooster  and  Arnold,  at  New  Haven, 
receiving  intelligence  of  the  invasion,  gathered  a  small  escort 
and  pushed  westward,  picking  up  various  militia  companies 
as  they  advanced.  To  the  northward,  also,  the  militia  began 
to  collect  and  close  in  upon  the  British  line  of  march.  Capt. 
Zalmon  Read's  company,  reconnoitering  in  the  direction  of  the 
enemy,  ran  unexpectedly  upon  the  advancing  British  column 
near  Couch's  Rock  in  Weston,  -and  was  obliged  to  beat  a 
hasty  retreat,  several  members  of  the  company  falling  into 
the  enemy's  hands. 

The  British  continued  their  march,  arresting  committee 
men  and  other  officials  wherever  found,  and  securing  as  pris- 
oners all  males  capable  of  bearing  arms,  though  unarmed, 
some  of  them  being  youths  of  quite  tender  years.  This  added 
a  new  fear  to  the  terrors  of  invasion,  and  resulted  in  the  re- 
moval of  a  number  of  children,  of  about  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  to  a  place  of  refuge  in  the  Den  Woods,  where  they 
were  provisioned  by  their  anxious  friends  till  the  invaders  had 
left  our  shores.  Arrived  at  Redding  Ridge,  a  halt  of  two 
hours  was  made.  The  troops  appear  to  have  refrained  from 
pillage  and  violence,  but  the  loyalist  soldiers,  as  they  passed 


THE  DAN  BURY  RAID.  45 

through  the  vicinity  of  their  old  homes,  jeered  their  whig 
neighbors,  and  roundly  abused  them  for  not  taking  service  in 
the  cause  of  their  king.  In  this  manner  the  expedition  pro- 
ceeded on  its  way,  and  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  26th  arrived  in  sight  of  Danbury,  and  the  long,  red  col- 
umn, deploying  into  line  of  battle,  swung  forward  upon  the 
doomed  town. 

The  inhabitants  of  Danbury  were  evidently  in  the  same 
state  of  distraction  and  excitement  as  their  neighbors  of  the 
lower  towns;  many  were  fleeing  from  their  homes,  and  no 
effective  measures  for  resisting  the  enemy's  progress  appear 
to  have  been  undertaken.  The  military  stores  were  guarded 
by  some  of  Col.  Charles  Burrell's  regiment  (i4th  militia)  ; 
the  local  militia  took  up  arms;  the  fifty  Continentals  who  had 
assembled  at  the  rendezvous,  though  nominally  regulars,  were 
no  better  than  militia,  and  only  valuable  according  to  their 
previous  experience  in  war ;  and  the  entire  available  force  was 
much  too  feeble  to  cope  with  the  strong  and  well-disciplined 
British  column.  Some  show  of  resistance  was  made,  however, 
there  was  fighting  in  streets  and  houses,  and  a  number  of  the 
citizens  of  Danbury  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  resistance 
was  soon  overcome,  the  American  forces  withdrew  to  the 
adjacent  hills,  and  the  British  were  left  in  full  possession  of 
the  town  and  the  military  stores. 

These  stores,  the  primary  object  of  the  expedition,  the 
enemy  proceeded  without  delay  to  destroy.  No  means  of 
transporting  any  portion  of  them  to  the  shipping  being  avail- 
able (for  the  inhabitants  of  Danbury  had  impressed  all  teams 
and  vehicles  for  the  removal  of  their  goods  and  families),  their 
destruction  became  a  military  necessity.  First  placing  their 
prisoners  in  one  of  the  churches,  under  strong  guard,  the  sol- 
diers burst  open  the  storehouses  and  scattered  their  contents 
about  the  streets.  Thousands  of  barrels  of  beef,  pork,  flour, 
biscuits,  sugar,  molasses,  and  other  food  stuffs,  together  with 
large  quantities  of  camp  equipage,  clothing,  etc.,  were  con- 
signed to  the  flames.  A  large  quantity  of  rum  and  wine  was 
also  consumed,  not  all  of  it,  however,  by  fire.  The  soldiers 
indulged  freely  in  liquor,  and  its  effects  soon  became  evident 
in  carousals,  disorderly  conduct,  and,  finally,  in  the  stupor 
of  intoxication. 


46 


THE  DAN  BURY  RAID. 


"  The  fat  from  the  stores,"  said  an  eye  witness,  "  was,  in 
some  places,  over  shoe-deep  in  the  streets."  A  quantity  of  tar 
and  tallow  was  included  in  this  material,  and  when  fire  was 
communicated  to  the  mass  a  tremendous  conflagration  resulted. 
Some  buildings  ignited,  and  others  are  said  to  have  been  set 
on  fire,  and  soon  a  considerable  portion  of  the  town  was  in 
flames.  In  this  hapless  condition,  with  rain  falling,  stores  and 
buildings  burning,  and  drunken  soldiers  carousing  in  their 
streets,  the  terrorized  inhabitants  of  Danbury  passed  the  night. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  the  forces  of  Wooster 
and  Arnold  were  assembling  and  pressing  forward  in  pursuit. 
A  rainstorm  had  set  in,  causing  considerable  delay  and  diffi- 
culty in  rallying  the  ill-disciplined  militia  of  the  invaded  region. 
The  American  troops  did  not  reach  Redding  Ridge  till  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  six  hours  after  the  British  had  reached 
their  destination.  They  numbered  some  five  hundred  men, 
under  Gen.  Silliman,  with  a  few  pieces  of  artillery,  and  some 
light  horse  accompanying  Generals  Wooster  and  Arnold.  The 
latter  officer  seems  to  have  anticipated  intercepting  the  British 
advance  somewhere  in  this  vicinity,  and  was  deeply  chagrined 
at  the  news  of  the  enemy's  success  in  reaching  their  objective 
point;  the  vehement  and  sulphurous  language  in  which  he 
gave  vent  to  his  feelings  smote  painfully  upon  the  ears  of 
his  astonished  listeners.  The  column  presently  moved  toward 
Bethel  and,  having  reached  that  point,  bivouacked  as  best  it 
might  in  the  driving  northeast  storm,  in  sight  of  the  confla- 
gration at  Danbury. 

With  the  dawn  of  the  Sabbath  morning  General  Tryon, 
having  accomplished  the  main  purpose  of  the  expedition/  made 
immediate  preparations  for  the  evacuation  of  Danbury.  His 
troops  fell  into  line  and,  with  the  prisoners  under  safe  escort, 
moved  out  over  Ridgebury  Hill  on  their  return  to  the  place 
of  embarkation,  leaving  the  smouldering  ruins  of  Danbury 
behind  them.  Wooster,  with  two  hundred  men,  followed 
immediately  upon  the  British  rear,  while  Arnold  and  Silliman, 
with  five  hundred  more,  moved  by  another  route  toward  Ridge- 
field.  What  road  Arnold  took  is  not  known  —  his  most  feasi- 
ble course  was  to  push  through  the  deep  defile  of  the  Sugar 
Hollow,  whence  a  rapid  march  would  enable  him  to  gain  the 
head  of  Ridgefield  street,  while  the  enemy  were  delayed  by 


THE  DANBURY  RAID.  47 

the  work  of  destroying  stores  and  by  the  menaces  of  Wooster's 
corps. 

As  the  British  moved  on,  they  discovered  and  destroyed 
other  stores,  as  stated,  and  presently  found  themselves  coming 
into  close  quarters  with  their  opponents.  Upon  every  eminence 
they  found  a  body  of  troops  posted  to  contest  their  advance. 
At  nine  o'clock  they  halted  for  breakfast,  and  this  oppor- 
tunity was  evidently  improved  by  Wooster  for  the  purpose  of 
striking  a  blow.  Leading  his  men  forward,  he  struck  the 
British  rear  with  such  impetuosity  as  to  throw  it  into  confusion, 
taking  forty  men  prisoners.  At  eleven  o'clock,  as  the  enemy 
were  nearing  Ridgefield,  Wooster  again  led  his  troops  to  the 
attack,  but  received  a  ball  in  his  spine  as  he  turned  to  encourage 
his  men,  and  fell  mortally  wounded.  Unwinding  his  sash 
from  his  body,  the  soldiers  placed  him  upon  it,  and  bore  him 
from  the  field.  His  men  fell  back  in  disorder,  but  were  rallied 
by  the  aid-de-camp,  Capt.  Stephen  Rowe  Bradley,  and  with- 
drawn from  further  pursuit.  The  pressure  upon  the  British 
rear  being  relieved,  Tryon's  troops  advanced  to  attack  the 
force  under  Arnold,  now  entrenched  in  their  front. 

Upon  arriving  at  Ridgefield,  Arnold's  troops  had  con- 
structed across  the  north  end  of  the  village  street  a  barricade 
composed  of  such  materials  as  could  be  hastily  gathered,  behind 
which  about  two  hundred  men  were  posted,  the  remainder 
being  stationed  on  the  flanks,  and  in  this  position  anxiously 
awaited  the  British  advance.  It  came  at  noon  —  a  heavy 
column  of  attack,  protected  by  strong  flank  guards,  with  artil- 
lery posted  in  front  and  rear.  The  artillery  opened  on  the 
American  position,  the  barrier  was  soon  forced,  and  the  British 
infantry  poured  through.  Hand-to-hand  fighting  ensued.  The 
conflict  was  short  and  sanguinary,  and  marked  by  thrilling 
personal  encounters.  Arnold's  horse  was  killed  by  the  fire 
of  a  British  platoon,  but  he  escaped  unharmed,  after  killing  a 
soldier  who  advanced  to  shoot  or  capture  him.  Lieut.-Col. 
Abraham  Gould,  commanding  the  Fourth  Connecticut  Militia, 
was  killed  on  horseback,  his  sword  wet  with  the  blood  of  his 
enemies.  The  action  was  soon  over,  the  Americans  were  forced 
back  on  all  sides,  the  street  was  cleared  by  the  British  artillery, 
and  the  king's  troops  were  masters  of  the  field. 

Some  mournful  scenes  are  noted  in  connection  with  this 


48  THE  DAN  BURY  RAID. 

field  of  carnage.  The  dying  Wooster  was  borne  to  Danbury, 
where  he  lingered  in  agony  till  the  2d  of  May.  A  funeral  party 
moved  southward  from  the  batl^e  field,  escorting  the  lifeless 
body  of  Lt.-Col.  Gould,  secured  upon  the  back  of  the  faithful 
charger  which  had  borne  him  to  a  soldier's  death  in  the  heat 
of  battle.  Eight  Americans  and  sixteen  British  soldiers  were 
buried  in  a  small  field  on  the  right  of  the  American  position, 
and  there  were  other  graves  of  fallen  foemen  at  other  points 
where  fighting  took  place. 

The  British  encamped  for  the  night  near  the  scene  of  con- 
flict, and  both  sides  rested  on  their  arms  preparatory  to  a  re- 
newal of  the  struggle  on  the  morrow.  The  situation  of  Tryon's 
force  was  now  becoming  critical.  From  all  sides  the  militia 
of  Fairfield,  New  Haven,  Litchfield,  and  Westchester  counties 
was  closing  in  upon  him ;  his  losses  had  been  considerable ;  he 
was  encumbered  with  prisoners ;  his  troops  were  becoming 
exhausted  with  the  strain  of  conflict,  and  his  ammunition  was 
running  low.  Absolute  rest  was  not  permitted  to  his  men  — 
there  was  firing  during  the  night.  On  the  morning  of  the 
28th  the  British  resumed  their  march,  constantly  harassed  by 
a  running  fire  as  they  moved  doggedly  onward  toward  the 
landing-place.  This  was  a  medicine  that  the  British  soldier 
never  took  kindly  to.  To  pour  heavy  volleys  in  the  direction 
of  the  enemy  and  to  receive  the  same  in  return  was  the  mode 
of  fighting  to  which  he  had  been  trained.  But  to  be  constantly 
peppered  by  antagonists  who  took  advantage  of  every  rock, 
tree,  or  other  bit  of  cover,  and.  whose  bullets  were  aimed  with 
uncomfortable  precision,  was  disconcerting  even  to  Britain's 
bravest  defenders.  The  retreat  to  the  shipping  was  a  repetition 
of  that  from  Lexington  two  years  before.  The  British  were 
constantly  annoyed  by  skirmish  fire,  and  several  determined 
efforts  were  made  to  stop  their  progress.  Arnold  stationed 
some  troops  with  artillery  near  Saugatuck  Bridge,  but  the 
enemy  avoided  the  encounter  by  fording  the  river  some  dis- 
tance above  and  passing  the  bridge  on  the  double-quick  before 
the  Americans  could  strike  a  blow.  The  columns  of  Arnold 
and  Silliman  now  placed  themselves  on  each  side  of  their  foes, 
and  a  running  fight  ensued,  "  lasting  for  about  three  hours." 

Arnold  next  posted  some  troops  at  Compo  Hill,  throwing 
up  slight  breastworks  to  impede  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 


THE  DAN  BURY  RAID.  49 

who,  when  they  arrived,  found  themselves  confronted,  a  Brit- 
ish writer  says,  by  more  than  three  times  their  number.  This 
is  probably  an  exaggeration,  but  the  entire  militia  was  now 
evidently  all  up,  and  a  last  determined  effort  was  made  to 
cut  off  the  British  retreat.  The  enemy,  however,  by  a  vigorous 
charge,  repulsed  the  American  forces  with  great  loss,  and 
commenced  their  embarkation.  Arnold  rallied  his  men  and 
made  a  furious  onset  upon  the  enemy's  rearguard,  which  he 
threw  into  confusion,  but  the  regiment  of  Fusiliers  faced 
about,  fired  an  effective  volley,  and,  aided  by  the  rearguard, 
which  rallied,  again  charged  with  the  bayonet,  inflicting  such 
painful  loss  upon  the  Americans  that  no  further  effort  was 
made  to  prevent  the  embarking  of  troops.  A  body  of  marines, 
it  is  said,  was  landed  from  the  vessels  to  cover  the  retreat, 
and  the  British  returned  in  safety  to  their  fleet,  carrying  their 
prisoners  with  them.  Arrived  on  board,  the  soldiers  flung 
themselves  upon  the  decks,  where  they  lay,  utterly  exhausted, 
as  the  vessels  bore  away  for  the  opposite  shore. 

The  raid  was  ended!  The  wearied  patriots  buried  their 
dead,  and  dispersed;  the  inhabitants  who  had  sought  safety  in 
flight  returned  to  their  homes ;  the  frightened  children  came 
out  of  the  tangled  thickets  of  the  Den,  and  returned  to  the 
arms  of  their  joyful  mothers;  crowds,  curious  and  eager, 
visited  the  various  fields  of  conflict,  whose  scenes  and  memories 
remained  a  theme  of  wondering  discussion  for  many  a  long 
day.  The  results  of  the  raid  were  most  unfortunate  for  the 
American  cause;  the  losses  in  military  stores,  property,  and 
life  were  very  considerable  and  very  dispiriting  to  the  patriots. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  British  soldiery  had  been  sorely  pressed, 
and  afterward  admitted  that  they  had  been  more  severely 
handled  than  at  Concord  and  Lexington,  and  but  for  their 
superior  discipline  and  the  military  skill  of  their  leaders  would 
probably  have  been  captured.  And  it  is  much  to  be  regretted 
that  on  this  occasion  our  troops  were  not  commanded  by  a 
general  more  renowned  for  strategical  ability  than  for  desper- 
ate valor.  Equally  is  it  to  be  deplored  that  our  troops  did  not 
possess  the  staying  power  to  successfully  resist  that  charge  at 
Compo,  "  which  had  become  absolutely  necessary,  from  a  want 
of  ammunition."  The  capture  of  this  entire  British  column 
would  have  gone  far  to  compensate  for  the  injury  it  had  in- 
flicted. 


50  THE  DANBURY  RAID. 

Now  that  the  tempest  had  passed  the  people  set  to  work  to 
repair  its  ravages.  Several  prominent  men  had  been  carried 
off  by  the  British  from  the  towns  through  which  they  passed, 
and  to  make  good  their  losses  and  provide  for  future  exigen- 
cies the  citizens  of  Redding  met  and  voted : 

"  May  5,  1777.  —  David  Jackson,  Seth  Sanford,  Thadus  Benedict  and 
John  Gray  Chosen  Select  Men  in  Addition  to  and  to  Supply  the  places 
of  Stephen  Betts  and  James  Rogers,  that  were  taken  Prifoners  by  the 
Enemy  in  their  Expedition  to  Danbury." 


IV 

BRITISH  CORRESPONDENCE  AND  RETURNS.  — LIST  OF 
PATRIOT  SOLDIERS,  PRISONERS,  ETC.  — THE  SUGAR 
HOUSE. 

HAVING  returned  from  his  expedition  with  a  whole  skin  and 
an  accomplished  purpose,  Gen.  Tryon  might  now  unbuckle  his 
sword-belt,  call  for  pen  and  inkhorn,  and  due  report  make  to 
his  superior  officers.  This  last  he  proceeded  to  do,  as  did 
others  connected  with  the  army  and  the  home  government,  and 
the  whole  correspondence  is  here  presented  in  chronological 
order,  showing  how  the  expedition  and  its  results  were  re- 
garded by  the  British  authorities  : 

[Capt.  Hutchinson  to  Lord  Percy.] 

"  On  board  the  Mercury  Packet, 
Long  Island  Sound,  April  30,  1777. 
My  Lord, 

Having  on  Monday  evening  last,  on  my  way  through  the  Sound, 
fallen  in  with  major-general  Tryon's  detachment,  which  he  was  then 
re-embarking  at  Norwalk  bay,  I  was  induced  to  go  on  board  the  Sene- 
gal to  receive  the  general's  commands,  and  if  possible  to  learn,  for 
your  lordship's  information,  the  success  of  so  important  an  expedition. 
The  fleet  being  under  way  by  the  time  I  got  on  board,  the  general  had 
just  time  to  desire  me  to  inform  your  lordship  that  he  had  succeeded 
beyond  his  expectations,  having  completely  destroyed  two  principal 
magazines  belonging  to  the  rebels  at  Danbury  and  Ridgefield,  consist- 
ing of  provisions  and  other  military  stores,  such  as  rum,  tents,  wag- 
gons, harness,  made  up  ammunition,  hospital  medicines,  and  cloathing; 
and  that  with  the  loss  of  very  few  men.  That  he  had  met  with  very 
little  opposition  on  his  way  to  Danbury,  but  on  his  return  was  attacked 
by  Arnold  at  the  head  of  a  large  body  of  rebels  from  Peek's  Kill,  who 
harrassed  his  march  exceedingly  almost  the  whole  way  from  Ridge- 
field  to  near  the  water-side;  but  that  he  at  last  made  a  successful 
charge  with  his  bayonets  on  their  main  body,  by  which  he  destroyed  a 
considerable  number,  and  drove  the  rest  into  the  utmost  confusion, 
which  enabled  him  to  resume  his  march,  and  to  re-embark  his  troops, 
horses,  artillery  and  wounded  men,  without  further  molestation.  That 
he  had  not  then  been  able  to  collect  the  different  returns,  but  from  the 
best  accounts  he  could  get,  believed  his  loss  did  not  exceed  50  men 
killed  and  wounded,  that  he  had  no  officers  killed,  and  only  a  few 
wounded.  He  added,  that  he  was  much  indebted  to  the  spirit  and 
bravery  of  his  troops,  and  particularly  so  to  major  Stewart,  who  had 


52  BRITISH  CORRESPONDENCE. 

distinguished  himself  in  a  most  conspicuous  manner  on  the  occasion. 
This  too  I  had  afterwards  explained  by  general  Agnew  and  his  major 
of  brigade  Lesslie,  who  informed  me  that  Stewart,  with  about  ten  or 
twelve  men  only,  rushed  forward  into  the  enemy's  line,  and  by  his 
example,  animated  the  rest  of  our  troops  to  make  a  general  charge, 
which  by  that  time  was  become  absolutely  necessary  from  a  want  of 
ammunition,  &c. 

The  rebels,  it  seems,  had  contrived  in  the  space  of  half  an  hour, 
with  their  usual  industry,  to  cover  themselves  with  a  kind  of  breast- 
work, on  the  ground  over  which  our  troops  must  pass.  Lesslie  said 
that  there  could  not  be  less  than  4000  barrels  of  beef  and  pork,  3000 
barrels  of  flour,  and  above  50  puncheons  of  rum,  destroyed  in  the  whole, 
besides  the  other  articles  of  camp  stores  and  cloathing  above  mentioned. 
That  a  great  part  of  these  were  found  in  the  churches  at  Danbury  and 
Ridgefield,  some  in  houses,  and  some  in  the  woods ;  but  that  the  whole 
was  discovered,  and  either  staved  or  burnt,  together  with  the  above 
mentioned  towns.  Major  Lesslie  likewise  said,  that  he  thought  there 
were  above  300  of  the  rebels  destroyed ;  which  indeed  seemed  to  be  the 
general  opinion.  General  Woorster,  he  said,  was  certainly  mortally 
wounded ;  that  Arnold  escaped  very  narrowly  with  the  loss  of  his  horse, 
which  was  killed.  Everybody  said,  he  behaved  that  day  with  uncom- 
mon resolution,  as  to  personal  bravery,  but  did  not  give  him  much  credit 
for  his  judgment  as  a  general.  I  heard  that  about  170  prisoners  were 
brought  on  board,  but  do  not  recollect  at  what  place,  or  in  what  manner 
they  were  taken,  being  only  about  ten  minutes  on  board,  I  could  not 
possibly  collect  as  many  particulars  as  I  wished. 

General  Agnew  has  got  a  slight  wound  in  the  shoulder,  and  I  was 
told  that  major  Hope,  capt.  Thorne,  and  lieut.  Hastings,  were  slightly 
wounded,  and  a  captain  in  Brown's  corps,  who  was  said  to  be  the  only 
one  in  danger.  I  was  told  that  general  Tryon  had  returned  that  corps 
public  thanks  for  their  gallant  behaviour. 

General  Tryon's  detachment  consisted  of  about  2000  men  from  the 
4th,  I5th,  23d,  27th,  44th,  and  64th  regiments ;  and  brigadier-general 
Brown's  corps,  with  twelve  of  the  I7th  light  dragoons,  and  six  light 
field  pieces.  They  landed  on  Friday  the  25th  of  April  at  Norwalk 
Bay,  and  proceeded  first  to  Danbury,  from  which  they  returned  by  way 
of  Ridgefield,  and  re-embarked  on  Monday  afternoon,  the  28th.  And 
it  being  general  Tryon's  orders  to  return  as  soon  as  this  service  was 
performed,  they  sailed  immediately  for  New  York. 

Captain  Duncan,  of  the  Eagle,  had  the  command  of  the  naval  de- 
partment, having  with  him  the  Senegal  and  Swan  sloops  of  war.  No 
accident  of  any  kind  happened  to  any  of  the  shipping. 

This,  my  lord,  is  the  substance  of  the  information  I  had  time  to 
collect. 

G.  HUTCHINSON,  Aid  de  camp." 


BRITISH  CORRESPONDENCE.  53 

(Gov.  Tryon  to  Lord   George  Germain.     [O'Callaghan:   Doc.   Hist.   N.   Y.]) 

"  New  York,  2  May,  1777. 
My  Lord, 

The  bearer,  Mr  Laight,  is  a  good  and  faithful  subject,  which  testi- 
mony he  desired,  I  would  give  your  LordP.  The  success  of  the  Enter- 
prize  in  Connecticut  under  my  command,  I  must  leave  to  General  Sr 
Wm  Moore  [Howe?]  to  particularize.  I  shall  only  observe,  that  my 
obligations  to  Sir  Wni  Erskine  are  beyond  the  measure  of  praise  on  the 
occasion ;  without  him  I  should  have  been  much  embarrassed  if  nothing 
worse,  and  with  his  aid  I  met  with  no  difficulties,  but  what  the  spirit 
and  activity  of  both  Officers  and  Soldiers  honorably  surmounted  — 
Submitting  myself  to  your  LordPs  patronage  I  am  very  respectfully 
Your  LordP,s  obedc  humble  serv1 

Wm  TRYON  " 

[General   Orders.] 
"  Head  Quarters,  New  York,  May  2,  1777. 

The  Commander  in  Chief  returns  his  thanks  to  Majr  General  Tryon, 
to  the  Gen1  Officers,  and  to  all  the  other  Officers  under  his  Command, 
on  the  late  Expedition;  the  regularity  of  the  Men,  reflects  credit  upon 
the  discipline  of  the  Army,  and  does  them  great  honor. 

The  spirited  charge  of  the  Troops  with  their  Bayonets  upon  the 
Enemy,  covered  with  Walls  &  Fences,  previous  to  the  embarkation, 
sufficiently  proves  the  evident  superiority  of  His  Majesty's  Troops,  and 
affords  the  greatest  Satisfaction  to  his  Excellency." 

[Vice-Admiral    Lord    Howe   to    Philip    Stephens,    Esq.    Sec'y   Admiralty.] 

"  Eagle  Off  New  York 

May  the  i8th  1777. 
Sir, 

I  informed  you  in  my  last  of  the  23d  of  April,  that  a  Detachment  of 
the  Army  had  been  embarked  by  the  General's  Appointment,  to  be 
landed  on  the  Coast  of  Connecticut,  for  destroying  a  very  considerable 
Magazine  formed  by  the  Rebels  at  Danbury  in  that  Province. 

The  Service  being  critical,  and  the  Navigation  intricate,  I  committed 
the  Conduct  of  it  to  Captain  Duncan :  The  Captains  Molloy  and  Clay- 
ton commanding  the  Fiat-Boats  under  his  Orders.  And  I  have  the 
pleasure  of  being  able  to  report  that  the  several  parts  of  the  Service 
were  executed  with  much  Skill  and  Judgment. 

The  Arrival  of  the  Detachment  being  unexpected,  no  Opposition 
was  made  to  the  Landing  near  Norwalk.  When  the  Troops  were 
formed  on  their  Return  to  the  Shore,  preparatory  to  their  Re-embarka- 
tion, after  the  most  complete  Success  in  the  intended  purpose,  the 
Rebels  advanced  with  an  apparent  Design  to  charge  them.  But  being 


54 


BRITISH  CORRESPONDENCE. 


thereupon  attacked  and  dispersed  the  Detachment  was  taken  off  with- 
out further  Interruption. 

I  am,  with  great  Consideration, 
Sir, 

Your  most  obedient 

humble  Servant 

HOWE. 
Philip  Stephens,  Esq., 

Secretary  of  the  Admiralty." 


My  Lord 


[Sir  Wm  Howe  to  Lord   George  Germain.] 

"  New  York  22d  May  1777. 


In  my  Letter  of  24th  April  No.  51,  I  mentioned  an  Embarkation  of 
Troops  detached  under  the  Command  of  Major  General  Tryon,  for  the 
Destruction  of  one  of  the  Enemy's  Magazines  of  Provisions  and  Stores 
collected  at  Danbury  in  Connecticut.  I  have  now  the  Honor  of  report- 
ing to  your  Lordship  the  Success  of  that  Expedition,  and,  to  enclose  a 
Return  of  the  Stores  destroyed. 

The  Troops  landed  without  Opposition  in  the  Afternoon  of  the  25th 
April,  about  four  Miles  to  the  Eastward  of  Norwalk,  and  twenty  from 
Danbury. 

In  the  Afternoon  of  the  26th  the  Detachment  reached  Danbury, 
meeting  only  small  Parties  of  the  Enemy  on  the  march ;  but  General 
Tryon  having  Intelligence  that  the  whole  Force  of  the  Country  was 
collecting,  to  take  every  Advantage  of  the  strong  Ground  he  was  to 
pass  on  his  Return  to  the  shipping,  and  finding  it  impossible  to  procure 
Carriages  to  bring  off  any  Part  of  the  Stores,  they  were  effectually 
destroyed,  in  the  Execution  of  which  the  Village  was  unavoidably 
burnt. 

On  the  27th  in  the  morning  the  Troops  quitted  Danbury  and  met 
with  little  Opposition  until  they  came  near  to  Ridgefield,  which  was 
occupied  by  General  Arnold,  who  had  thrown  up  Entrenchments  to 
dispute  the  Passage,  while  General  Wooster  hung  upon  the  Rear  with 
a  separate  Corps :  The  Village  was  forced  and  the  Enemy  drove  back 
on  all  Sides. 

General  Tryon  lay  that  night  at  Ridgefield,  and  renewed  his  March 
on  the  morning  of  the  28th.  The  Enemy  having  been  reinforced  with 
Troops  and  Cannon,  disputed  every  advantageous  Situation,  keeping 
at  the  same  Time  smaller  Parties  to  harrass  the  Rear,  until  the  General 
had  formed  his  Detachment  upon  a  Height  within  Cannon  shot  of  the 
Shipping,  when  the  Enemy  advancing,  seemingly  with  an  Intention  to 
attack  him,  he  ordered  the  Troops  to  charge  with  their  Bayonets,  which 
was  executed  with  such  Impetuosity  that  the  Rebels  were  totally  put 
to  Flight,  and  the  Detachment  embarked  without  further  Molestation. 

The  enclosed  Returns  set  forth  the  Loss   sustained  by  the  King's 


RETURNS.  55 

Troops  and  that  of  the  Eenemy  from  the  best  Information,  but  I  have 
the  Satisfaction  to  inform  your  Lordship  our  wounded  Officers  are  in 
the  fairest  Way  of  Recovery. 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be 

Your  Lordships 

most  obedient 
humble  Servant 

W.  HOWE. 
Right  Honble  Lord  George  Germain  &ca  &ca  &ca  " 

RETURN  of  the  Stores,  Ordnance,  Provisions  &ca,  as  nearly  as  could 
be  ascertained,  found  at  the  Rebels  Stores,  and  destroyed  by  the  Kings 
Troops  at  Danbury  &ca,  in  Connecticut,  April  27th  1777. 

A  quantity  of  Ordnance  Stores,  with  Iron  &ca 
Four  Thousand  Barrels  of  Beef  and  Pork 
One  Thousand  barrels  of  Flour 
One  hundred  large  Teirces  of  Biscuit 
Eighty  nine  Barrels  of  Rice 
One  hundred  and  twenty  Puncheons  of  Rum 

Several  large  Stores  of  Wheat,  Oats,  and  Indian  Corn  in  bulk,  the 
quantity  therefore  could  not  possibly  be  ascertained. 
Thirty  Pipes  of  Wine 
One  hundred  Hogsheads  of  Sugar 
Fifty  Ditt°  of  Molasses    , 
Twenty  Casks  of  Coffee 

Fifteen  large  Casks  filled  with  Medicines  of  all  Kinds 
Ten  Barrels  of  Salt  Petre. 

One  Thousand  and  Twenty  Tents  and  Marquies. 
A  Number  of  Iron  boilers, 
A  large  quantity  of  Hospital  Bedding  &ca. 
Engineer,  Pioneer  and  Carpenters  Tools 
A  Printing  Press  complete 
Tar,  Tallow  &ca. 
Five  thousand  pair  of  Shoes  and  Stockings 

At  a  Mill  between  Ridgeberry  and  Ridgefield. 
One  hundred  barrels  Flour,  and  a  quantity  of  Indian  Corn. 

At  the  Bridge  over  the  West  Branch  of  Norwalk  River  and  in  the 

Woods  contiguous. 
One  hundred  Hogsheads  of  Rum 
Several  Chests  of  Arms 
Paper  Cartridges 
Field  Forges 
Three  hundred  Tents. 


RETURNS. 


Return  of  the  Killed,  Wounded,  and  Missing  of  the  following 
Corps  on  the  27th  &  28th  April  upon  the  Expedition  under  the  Command 
of  Major  General  Try  on. 


Killed 

Wounded 

Missing 

en 
E 

01 

E 

0) 

•£ 

V 

8 

0) 

4) 

0] 

Regiment 

Field 
Officers 

01 

C 

'3 
o. 

ni 
O 

Subaltern 

Sergeants 

Dru's  &  F 

Rank  &  F 

Field 
Officers 

Captains 

Subaltern 

Sergeants 

Dru's  &  F 

Rank  &  F 

01 

28 

3s 
So 

Captains 

Subaltern 

Sergeants 

Dru's  &  F 

Rank  &  F 

nth  . 

R 

15 

5 

i 

i 

18 

.. 

10 

27th  .  .  . 

i 

i 

i 

i 

10 

6 

nth  . 

12 

i 

z 

It 

Prince  of 

Wales's 
American 

t 

i 

6 

X 

2 

3 

I  • 

Voluntiers 

) 

Total  .  . 

i 

23 

3 

6 

3 

9 

Q2 

I 

27 

Killed 

Wounded 

Missing 

ROYAL'ARTILLERY 

B 

01 

CO 

• 

01 

"3 
o 

I 

2 

V 

"3 
o 

01 

1 

£ 

V 

01 

"3 

0 

0 

<u 

^j 

^ 

t 

^j 

is 

0 

T) 

b 

0) 

•o 

C 

B 

•o 

8 

r-1 

T) 

i 

J^ 

•rt 

3 

Jp 

•d 

a 

£ 

3 

J^_ 

a 

* 

Total  .... 

2 

3 

I 

T 

•• 

4th  Reg*  . 


Captn  Thome 


4th  Reg' 


15 


a,  j  Captn  Ditmas 


Wounded 
d° 


Lieut  Hastings  12th  reg'  acts  as  Volunteer  d° 
Major  Conran 


27th -j  Capt-  R.utherford 

(  Ens"  Minchin 

d  j  2d  Lieut  Price 

I  Volunteer  Vale 

44th Major  Hope 

6  th  j  Capt"  Calder 

(  Ensn  Mercer 

Prince  of  Wales's     i  Col°  Brown 
American  •<  Captn  Lyman 

Voluntiers  (  Captn  Seon 


d° 
d« 
d° 
d° 
d° 
d° 
d° 
d« 
d" 
d» 
d° 


Captn  Simon  Eraser  as  Volunt'        D° 


W  HOWE 


BRITISH  CORRESPONDENCE.  57 

RETURN  OF  THE  REBELS,  KILLED  Si  WOUNDED,  on  the  27th  &  28th  April 
1777  in  Connecticut  by  the  Detachment  under  the  Command  of  Major 

General  Tryon. 

Killed 

General  Wooster 

Colonel  Goold 

Colonel  Lamb  of  the  Artillery 

Colonel  Henman 

Doctor  Atwater  a  Man  of  considerable  Influence 

Captain  Cooe 

Lieu1  Thompson 

100  Private 

Wounded 
Colonel  Whiting 
Captain  Benjamin 
Lieu4  Cooe 
250  Private 

Taken 
50  Private  including  several  Committee  Men. 

[Gov.    Montfort   Browne  to    Lord   [Geo.    Germain?].] 

"  No.  4. 

New  York  May  the  31*  1777. 
My  Lord. 

I  have  now  the  honor  to  transmit  to  your  Lordship  duplicate  of  my 
last  letter  No.  3,  dated  April  the  I1  1777,  which  I  hope  has  long  since 
reached  your  Lordships  hands. 

Scarce  anything  since  that  period  has  happened  worth  Communicat- 
ing, except  our  Expedition  to  Danbury,  which  tho'  a  most  fateiguing 
one,  has  been  successful  beyond  our  most  sanguine  expectations ;  — 
The  immense  quantitys  of  Provisions,  and  Stores  of  all  kinds,  which 
were  destroy'd  in  that  Town,  and  its  Environs,  have  been  astonishing; 
The  Magazines  were  in  short  filled  with  every  necessary  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  Rebel  Army,  that  could  be  thought  of,  and  the  loss  and  dis- 
appointment it  must  be  to  them  at  the  opening  of  their  Campaign  must 
be  irreparable,  and  not  to  be  rated.  As  the  Commander  in  Chief  has 
undoubtedly  forwarded  your  Lordship  by  this  opportunity,  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  stores,  ordnance  and  provision  taken  and  destroy'd,  it 
will  be  useless  to  repeat  them. 

I  Commanded  my  own  Corps,  and  can  truly  say,  upon  the  faith  and 
honor  of  a  Governor,  that  their  undaunted  behaviour  and  resolution, 
astonished  every  officer  on  the  expedition,  they  could  scarce  be 
restrained,  often  advancing  musket  shot  before  any  other  Corps;  but 
nothing  was  more  pleasing,  or  could  more  evidently  prove  the  purity 
and  uncorruptness  of  thier  principles,  than  that  of  paying  not  the  least 
attention  or  partiallity  to  thier  own  Rebel  Relations  and  Neighbours,  who 
they  met  in  Numbers  of  Both  Sexes,  and  to  whom  they  express'd  upon 
all  occasions,  a  resentment,  for  not  joining  in  fighting  for  the  best  of 


5g  BRITISH  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Kings.  —  I  had  Two  Captains  wounded  (one  Mortally)  and  Sixteen 
non  Commission'd  Officers  and  Privates  Killed  and  Wounded.  I  had 
the  Misfortune  of  being  amongst  the  number  of  the  latter,  having 
receiv'd  a  ball  in  my  left  Thigh,  of  which,  thank  God,  I  am  nearly 
recovered. 

The  honor  my  Corps  has  gain'd  on  this  Expedition  has  been  Echoed 
from  the  lowest  rank  to  the  highest:  and  Sir  William  Erskine  and 
Major  General  Tryon  have  been  so  good  as  to  report  thier  Behaviour 
to  the  Commander  in  Chief  in  such  pathetic  Terms,  as  induced  his  Ex- 
cellency to  return  all  the  Officers,  and  Men  thanks  in  the  most  Public 
manner,  for  their  undaunted  Courage,  and  Spirited  Behavour;  And 
has  done  me  the  honor  to  appoint  me  to  the  Rank  of  Brigadier  General, 
which,  as  I  had  the  honor  to  inform  your  Lordship  in  my  last,  I  con- 
sider as  a  mere  Bagatelle,  as  I  am  Commanded  by  Brigadier  General 
De  Lancy  and  Skinner.  I  therefore  once  more  take  the  Liberty  to  rec- 
ommend to  your  Lordships  Consideration  my  request  in  my  Letter 
No.  3  which  will  lay  me  under  inexpressable  obligation.  — 
June  ioth 

Since  having  wrote  the  foregoing,  I  have  the  honor  to  acquaint  your 
Lordship  that  I  have  just  had  it  from  undoubted  authority  from  Con- 
necticut, that  the  Rebells  upon  a  supposition  that  our  little  Army,  was 
to  march  from  Danbury  to  the  White  Plains,  had  actually  destroy'd 
several  Magazines  on  that  road,  full  of  Provisions,  Ammunition  and 
Stores  Considered  equal  in  Quantity  with  those  demolished  at  Danbury. 

My  Corps  are  all  encamped  at  Kingsbridge  Ready  at  a  moments 
notice  to  follow  the  Commander  in  Chief,  who  tis  said  will  take  the 
feild  without  delay. 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be  with  the  Greatest  Respect, 

My  Lord, 
Your  Lordships 
most  obedient  and 
most  devoted  Serv1 
MONTFORT  BROWNE  " 

[Col.   Guy  Johnson   to   Lord   Geo.   Germain.] 
[O'Callaghan:   Doc.   Hist.   N.   Y.] 

"No.  5. 

New  York  June  8th  1777. 
My  Lord, 

In  my  letter  of  April  last  (No.  4)  I  mentioned  briefly  the  state  of 
matters  at  that  time;  a  few  days  after  a  person  whom  I  employed  to 
carry  messages  to  the  Indians  and  obtain  an  account  of  the  rebel  garri- 
sons returned,  with  a  full  state  of  the  strength  and  circumstances  of 
the  Forts  from  Ticonderoga  to  Albany,  which  he  obtained  thro'  his 
address  under  an  assumed  character,  &  likewise  gave  a  particular 
account  of  a  large  magazine  of  military  stores  and  provisions  collected 
at  Danbury  in  Connecticut ;  which  I  communicated  to  Sr  Wm  Howe, 
who  soon  after  sent  a  body  of  troops  there,  that  effectually  destroyed 
the  whole,  as  he  has  doubtless  acquainted  your  Lordship.  .  .  ." 


BRITISH  CORRESPONDENCE. 


59 


[Gov.   Tryon   to   Lord   Geo.    Germain.] 
r  [O'Callaghan:   Doc.  Hist.   N.  Y.] 

"  New  York,  9,  June  1777. 
My  Lord, 

As  the  success  of  the  late  expedition  to  Connecticut  to  destroy  the 
rebel  stores  at  Danbury  has  been  transmitted  by  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  I  only  beg  leave  to  assure  your  Lord?,  every  praise  is  due  to  the 
persevering  courage  and  spirited  behaviour  of  both  Officers  and  Men, 
on  that  service  Sr  Wm  Erskine  was  of  important  service  in  his  double 
capacity,  as  Brigadier  and  Quarter  Master  General.  I  hold  him  in 
such  honorable  esteem  and  regard,  and  confess  his  Military  abilities  so 
superior  to  my  own,  that  were  I  allowed  to  make  a  request  to  his  Maj1? 
in  his  behalf,  it  should  be  that  he  might  succeed  to  the  command  of  a 
Regiment  before  me,  as  much  as  I  wish  for  that  honour  myself. 

I  am,  My  Lord,  most  respectfully 

Your  obedient  servant 

Wm  TRYON  M :  G." 

[Lord  Geo.   Germain  to  Sir  Wm.   Howe.] 

"(No.  14.) 

Whitehall  June  2Oth  1777. 
Sir, 

I  have  had  the  Satisfaction  to  hear  of  the  Success  of  the  Expedi- 
tion to  Danbury,  by  means  of  Lord  Percy,  who  communicated  to  me  a 
letter  which  he  received  from  his  Aid  de  Camp  Captain  Hutchinson 
dated  28th  April,  and  which  has  been  inserted  in  the  Gazette. 

I  am  &ca 

GEO  :  GERMAIN." 
"  The  Honorable 
Sir  William  Howe. 

[Lord  Geo.   Germain  to  Sir  Wm.  Howe.] 

"(No.  15.) 

Whitehall  6th  August  1777. 
Sir 

You  will  have  learned  from  my  Dispatch  of  the  20th  June  that  the 
News  of  the  Success  of  the  detachment  under  the  Command  of  Major 
General  Tryon,  had  reached  England,  before  the  Arrival  of  your  Let- 
ter of  22d  May. 

Your  Account  of  that  Expedition  nevertheless  gave  the  King  great 
Satisfaction ;  as  it  was  accompanied  with  Assurances  that  His  Majesty's 
Troops  had  sustained  a  comparatively  small  Loss  and  that  the  wounded 
Officers  were  in  a  fair  way  of  Recovery. 

The  King  was  pleased  to  repeat  the  Approbation  which  he  formerly 
expressed  of  your  manifest  Attention  to  the  Service  in  setting  on  foot 
an  Expedition  which  was  so  well  timed  and  so  peculiarly  calculated 
for  distressing  the  Enemy;  and  His  Majesty  highly  approves  of  the 
manner  in  which  it  has  been  executed.  .  .  . 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  &ca 

GEO:  GERMAIN." 


6o 


PATRIOT  SOLDIERS. 


A  LIST  OF  REVOLUTIONARY  SOLDIERS  AND  OTHERS  WHO 
PARTICIPATED  IN  THE  DANBURY  RAID,  APRIL  25-28, 
1777. 

New  Haven. 


Maj.  Gen.  David  Wooster, 


Brig.  Gen.  Benedict  Arnold, 

Dr.  David  Atwater, 
Anan  Bradley, 
Timothy  Gorham, 
Philo  Hodge, 


Brig.  Gen.  Gold  Selleck 
Silliman, 

Lt.  Col.  Abraham  Gould, 

Lt.  Col.  David  Dimon, 
Lt.  Lewis  Goodsell, 

Zachariah  Lacey, 
Benjamin  Meeker, 


Levi  Bradley, 


Capt.  Ebenezer  Coe, 


Lt.  Ephraim  Middlebrook, 

Lt  William  Thompson, 
Lt.  Stephen  Wells, 

William  Nichols, 

Josiah  Peck, 

Ens.  Judson  Burton, 


Commanded  the  American  troops  in  the 
pursuit  of  Tryon.  -Mortally  wounded 
at  Ridgefield,  Apl.  27,  died  at  Dan- 
bury,  May  2,  1777. 

Took  command  of  the  American  forces 
after  the  fall  of  Wooster. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

Wounded. 

(West  Haven.)  Wounded  at  Compo, 
Apl.  28. 

Fairfield. 

Commanded   the    Conn.    Militia    in   the 

Tryon  Raid. 
Comd'g    4th    Conn.    Militia.     Killed    at 

Ridgefield,  Apl.  27. 
6th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line. 
Capt.    Ebenezer    Hill's    Co.,    4th    Conn. 

Militia. 

A  private  soldier. 
A  civilian.     Taken  prisoner.     Carried  to 

New  York,  and  spent  eighteen  months 

in  the  Sugar  House. 
A  soldier  engaged  at  Ridgefield. 

Stratford. 

Seriously   wounded   at   Ridgefield,   Apl. 

27.     Right  eye  shot  out,  part  of  right 

ear  shot  off,  bayonet  stab  in  right  hand 

and  side.     Recovered,  and  lived  to  old 

age. 
Comd'g  Co.     Killed  at  Ridgefield,  Apl. 

27. 

Killed  at  Ridgefield,  Apl.  27. 
4th  Co.  of  alarm  list,  4th  Conn.  Militia. 

Wounded  at  Ridgefield,  Apl.  27. 
(Bridgeport.)     Saw  Gen.  Wooster  when 

he  fell. 
Capt.  Wheeler's  co.,  Col.  Whiting's  Regt. 

(4th  Conn.  Militia). 
13th  Regt.  Conn.  Militia. 


PATRIOT  SOLDIERS. 


61 


Capt.  Abraham  Brinsmade. 
Stiles  Judson. 
William  Hall. 
Lewis  Fairchild. 
Robert  Hawley, 

Capt.  Nathan  Seeley. 


Sergt.  Samuel  Gold, 
Stephen  Fairchild, 
Daniel  Bartram, 
Benjamin  Lines, 


Jacob  Patchen, 


Ebenezer  Patchen. 
Jeremiah   Sanford, 


Daniel  Chapman, 
Daniel  Collins  Bartlett. 


Lt.  Hezekiah  Davenport, 
David  Stevens, 
John   Holmes, 
David  Waterbury, 


Benjamin  Weed, 
Capt.  Jesse  Bell. 
Thaddeus  Bell, 


Capt.  Thomas  Starr, 
A  negro, 


Ens.  Ozias  Goodwin. 
Oliver  Dickinson. 
Solomon  Buell, 


Capt.  Ebenezer  Coe's  Co. ;  4th  Conn. 
Militia.  Wounded. 

Redding. 

Wounded  at  Ridgefield,  Apl.  27. 

Wounded  at  Ridgefield,  Apl.  27. 

Served  with  the  militia  in  Tryon's  Raid. 

A  non-combatant,  16  yrs.  old.  Taken 
prisoner,  but  was  released  by  Gov. 
Tryon,  on  account  of  his  youth. 

Taken  prisoner,  but,  says  tradition,  "be- 
ing young,  strong,  and  active,  soon 
made  his  escape." 

A  lad  of  19.  Taken  prisoner,  carried  to 
New  York,  and  died  in  the  Sugar 
House. 

Taken  prisoner  and  died  in  the  Sugar 
House. 

y 
Stamford. 

Killed  at  Ridgefield,  Apl.  27. 

Killed  at  Ridgefield,  Apl.  27. 

Was  in  the  Danbury  fight. 

Was  in  the  pursuit  gf  the  British  after 
the  burning  of  Danbury.  Saw  Woos- 
ter  shot,  and  saw  Arnold  leave  his 
fallen  horse,  taking  his  pistols  with 
him. 

Wounded  at  Ridgefield,  Apr.  27. 

(Darien.) 

Danbury. 

Wounded. 

Property  of  Sam  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Red- 
ding. Killed  at  Danbury,  Apl.  26. 

Litchfield. 


Wounded  in  both  thighs. 


62 


PATRIOT  SOLDIERS. 


Col.  Philip  Burr  Bradley, 
Jeremiah  Keeler, 


Thomas  Torrance, 
Simeon  Minor, 
Timothy  Minor, 


Capt.  Thomas  Bull, 
Daniel  Bull, 

Elias  Gray. 
William  Gray, 


Ridgefield. 

5th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line. 
Witnessed  the  fight  at  Ridgefield. 

W  oodbury. 
Severely  wounded. 
Taken  prisoner. 
Taken  prisoner. 

New  F airfield. 

5th  Regt.  Conn.  Light  Horse. 
In  Col.  J.  P.  Cooke's  Regt.   (i6">  Mili- 
tia).   Wounded. 

A  boy  of  16.  Son  of  Elias.  Left  home 
against  his  father's  command,  and 
blazed  away  at  the  British  from  behind 
a  stone  wall.  His  father  chastised  him 
for  his  disobedience. 


Col.  Thaddeus  Cook, 

Capt.  Stephen  Rowe  Bradley, 

Aaron  Ives, 

Joash  Hall, 
Stephen  Parker, 

• 
Paul   Peck, 

Levi  Watson, 


Jere  Burwell. 
Benjamin  Platt, 


Lt.  Peter  Mills. 
Nathan  Skiff,  2d. 

Lt.  Col.  Josiah  Starr, 
Isaac  Baldwin, 
Col.  Charles  Burrall,  Canaan, 
Col.  Joseph  Crane, 
Maj.  Thaddeus  Crane,  No. 
Salem,  N.  Y., 


Wallingford. 
ioth  Regt.  Conn.  Militia. 
(Cheshire.)     Aid  to  Gen.  Wooster. 
Wounded  in  the  leg  at  Compo,  and  lost 

his  horse-equipments  and  rations. 
Fought  at  Compo,  where  his  horse  was 

shot  under  him. 
(Cheshire.) 

Torrington. 
Hunter    and    scout.    Volunteer.     Killed 

near  Danbury. 
Was  at  Danbury  when  it  was  burned. 

Milford. 

Severely  wounded. 
Kent. 

New  Milford. 

7thRegt.  Conn.  Continental  Line. 
Was  in  the  fight  at  Danbury. 
14th  Regt.  Conn.  Militia. 
N.  Y.  Militia. 

2d  Westchester  Co.  Regt.     Wounded. 


THE  SUGAR  HOUSE. 


Lebbeus  Mead, 


Capt.  Daniel  Gillett, 
Capt.  Edward  Rogers,  Corn- 
wall. 

Nicholas  Darrow,  Middle- 
town. 

Daniel  Sloper,  Southington, 
Abner  Bradley,  Watertown, 
Theophilus  Mead,  Norwalk, 
William  Edmond,  Newtown, 
Joseph  Parker, 

Lt.  Samuel  Elmore,  Sharon, 
Lt.  Col.  Giles  Russell,  Ston- 
ington, 

Col.    Jedidiah    Huntington, 
Norwich, 

Lewis  Fairchild,  Guilford, 

John  Crane,  Durham, 

James  Lockwood,  New  Ca- 
naan. 


Capt.  Seeley's  Co.,  Col.  Cortland's  Regt. 

(N.  Y.).     Badly  wounded  at  Compo, 

Apl.  28. 
Volunteer. 


Sheldon's  Regt.  Light  Horse. 
Wounded  at  Compo,  Apl.  28. 
Wounded  near  Ridgefield. 
Volunteer.     Wounded  in  the  thigh. 
Suffered  excessive  fatigue  at  the  burn- 
ing of  Danbury. 
Killed  at  Compo,  Apl.  28. 

4th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line. 
Wounded  at  Danbury. 

1st  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line. 
Captured  at  Danbury;  died  in  prison. 
Wounded. 


Besides  the  losses  noted  above,  the  British  claimed  to  have 
killed  Col.  Lamb,  and  placed  Col.  Whiting  and  Capt.  Benjamin 
among  the  wounded.  This  list,  comprising  about  one-seventh 
of  the  number  supposed  to  have  been  with  Wooster  and  Arnold, 
gives  a  good  idea  of  the  casualties  of  battle.  In  addition,  more 
than  forty  Americans  were  taken  prisoners,  carried  to  New 
York,  and  confined  in  the  Sugar  House.  This  building,  which 
adjoined  the  yard  of  Trinity  Church,  was  used,  throughout  the 
Revolution,  for  the  confinement  of  military  prisoners,  and 
within  its  walls  many  a  hapless  patriot  endured  untold  suffer- 
ings during  the  period  of  his  imprisonment.  From  this  dread 
prison-house,  almost  as  soon  as  they  reached  it,  these  unfor- 
tunate men  sent  back  an  appeal  'for  assistance  to  their  sorrow- 
stricken  friends : 

"  By  a  letter  sent  by  Col.  Hart,  dated  New  York,  May  2,  1777, 
directed  to  Squire  Sanford  and  signed  by  James  Rogers,  it  appears  that 
the  following  persons,  who  were  taken  prisoners  in  the  expedition  at 
Danbury,  and  carried  to  New  York,  were,  Daniel  Chapman,  Jabez 
Frost,  Daniel  Sanford,  Timothy  Parsons,  David  Fairchild,  Daniel 


64 


THE  SUGAR  PI O USE. 


Meeker,  Russel  Bartlet,  James  Rogers,  Oliver  Sanford,  Nathaniel 
Squire,  Ezekiel  Fairchild,  Stephen  Betts,  Jonas  Platt  and  Thomas 
Couch  of  Redding,  John  Bartram,  Matthew  Benedict,  Benjamin  Sperry, 
John  Porter,  Jonathan  Starr,  William  Roberts,  Jacob  Gray,  Aaron  Gray 
Knap,  of  Danbury;  Benjamin  Meeker,  John  Olmsted,  John  Dimon, 
Benjamin  Banks,  David  Burr,  Peter  Blackman,  Ephraim  Burr,  Nathan 
Beers,  Caleb  Disbrow,  Levi  Disbrow,  and  Peter  Williams,  of  the  town 
of  Fairfield,  Israel  Chapman  of  Salem ;  James  Crawford  and  Newton 
Crawford  of  Pound  Ridge;  Simeon  Minor,  of  Woodbury;  Benjamin 
Keeler  of  Wilton,  John  Wright  of  Norwich;  Job  Slocum  of  Oblong; 
James  and  Benjamin  Northrup  and  John  Smith  of  Ridgefield;  in  whose 
behalf  Mr.  Rogers  wrote  the  letter,  in  which  they  requested  their 
friends  in  Connecticut,  to  send  to  them  by  Col.  Hart,  all  the  hard  money 
they  could  collect,  who  had  agreed  to  advertise  when  he  should  return 
to  New  York,  and  where  the  money  should  be  left  for  said  prisoners ; 
each  man's  money  to  be  put  up  by  itself,  with  his  name  on  it."  [Hin- 
man :  War  Am.  Rev.] 

It  is  doubtful  whether  this  money  ever  benefited  the  pris- 
oners, if,  indeed,  they  ever  received  it.  The  British  provost- 
marshal,  Capt.  William  Cunningham,  was  an  inhuman  monster, 
who  treated  his  miserable  captives  with  the  most  revolting 
cruelty.  Under  his  charge,  men  of  all  ranks  were  confined  to- 
gether without  distinction  of  character ;  citizens  of  high  stand- 
ing and  respectability  were  thrown,  without  cause,  into  the 
same  loathsome  dungeon  with  felons  of  the  lowest  grade ;  the 
friends  of  prisoners  were  forbidden  all  access  to  them ;  corre- 
spondence was  prohibited,  lest  their  condition  become  publicly 
known ;  the  grossest  insults  were  offered  them ;  sick  soldiers, 
and  even  officers,  were  beaten  by  this  barbarous  wretch,  whose 
power  over  them  was  unlimited.  No  hospital  was  provided 
for  the  sick ;  no  physician  was  permitted  to  be  in  attendance, 
and  great  numbers  necessarily  died  of  disease.  The  weekly 
ration  of  the  prisoners  was  two  pounds  of  hard  biscuit,  and  the 
same  quantity  of  raw  pork,  which  had  to  be  eaten  uncooked. 
Water  was  only  obtainable  from  a  polluted  well.  Cunningham 
reduced  the  quantity  of  provisions,  exchanged  good  food  for 
bad,  and  caused  arsenic  to  be  introduced  into  the  bread  of  the 
captives.  At  the  bacchanalian  feasts  which  he  gave  to  his  per- 
sonal friends,  the  prisoners  were  paraded,  to  be  pointed  out  and 
abused  by  the  drunken  scoundrel  at  whose  mercy  they  were 
placed.  Followed  by  a  villainous  negro  armed  with  a  coil  of 
rope,  he  made  frequent  tours  of  the  prison,  threatening  death 


THE  SUGAR  HOUSE.  65 

by  the  noose  to  any  who  incurred  his  displeasure,  and  scrupled 
not  to  carry  out  his  threat,  for  scores  of  helpless  victims  were 
strangled  by  Cunningham  and  his  demoniac  assistant  in  the 
yard  of  the  prison  during  the  hours  of  night,  without  trial  and 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  too-negligent  authorities.  This 
murder  of  helpless  beings  might  have  continued  indefinitely  had 
not  some  wretched  women  who  lived  in  that  vicinity,  moved 
by  the  piteous  cries  for  mercy  which  disturbed  their  midnight 
hours,  personally  appealed  to  General  Howe  to  prevent  the 
horrid  practice.  Some  amelioration  of  the  sufferings  of  pris- 
oners was  thereby  secured,  but  throughout  the  war  the  memory 
of  the  Sugar  House  was  associated  with  never-to-be-forgotten 
horrors. 

From  this  inferno  the  citizens  captured  during  the  Raid 
appear  to  have  happily  secured  their  release  after  a  compara- 
tively brief  term  of  imprisonment.  Of  the  fifteen  inhabitants 
of  Redding  who  were  carried  to  New  York,  six  died  in  prison 
and  seven  others  are  known  to  have  returned  before  the  close 
of  the  Saratoga  campaign.  Probably  all  the  survivors  were 
released  at  the  same  time,  but  by  what  means  did  they  so  for- 
tunately escape  the  fate  which  awaited  those  who  remained  in 
the  Sugar  House  ?  Were  they  exchanged  for  some  of  the  pris- 
oners taken  by  Gen.  Wooster  in  his  attack  on  the  British  rear- 
guard on  Ridgebury  Hill?  By  no  other  supposition  can  the 
writer  explain  their  happy  escape  from  a  fate  as  horrible  as 
brave  men  ever  met  at  any  period  of  our  country's  history. 


THE  SARATOGA  CAMPAIGN.  — OPERATIONS  IN  PENNSYL- 
VANIA. —  GERMANTOWN,  VALLEY  FORGE,  AND  MON- 
MOUTH. 

THE  events  of  the  succeeding  months  of  the  year  1777  fol- 
lowed each  other  in  bewildering  succession:  an  effort  will  be 
made  to  present  them  in  the  order  in  which  they  occurred. 

The  British  government,  whose  army  had  obtained  an  al- 
most unbroken  series  of  successes  in  the  campaign  of  the  pre- 
vious year,  now  conceived  the  idea  of  inaugurating  a  double 
campaign,  which,  it  was  hoped,  would  result  in  the  complete 
overthrow  of  the  American  forces  and  the  collapse  of  the  re- 
bellion. A  force  was  to  be  sent  to  capture  Philadelphia  —  an- 
other, marching  southward  from  Canada  along  the  great  water- 
ways of  the  colony  of  New  York,  was  to  join  the  British  army 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson.  The  first  movement  would  divide 
and  weaken  the  army  of  Washington  and  place  the  Jerseys 
under  British  control ;  the  second  would  isolate  rebellious  New 
England  —  hitherto  the  chief  source  of  resistance  —  from  the 
other  colonies.  It  was  believed  that  should  these  operations 
prove  successful,  armed  opposition  could  not  long  endure. 

Accordingly,  Sir  John  Burgoyne,  then  in  England,  was 
placed  at  the  head  of  a  new  army  of  English  and  German  troops 
and  sailed  with  them  for  America.  Arriving  at  Montreal,  he 
organized  his  forces  for  active  service,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  8th  of  June  set  forth  at  the  head  of  a  splendid  column  of 
soldiery,  consisting  of  thirty-seven  hundred  English  regulars, 
three  thousand  German  troops  of  the  line,  about  five  hundred 
artillerymen  with  forty  guns,  and  some  two  hundred  and  fifty 
provincials,  constituting,  in  efficiency  and  equipment  for  serv- 
ice, one  of  the  best  armies  ever  seen  in  America.  Across  the 
level  prairie  toward  the  banks  of  the  Sorel,  through  the  rugged 
uplands  beside  the  rapids  which  interrupt  the  course  of  that 
river,  and  penetrating  the  tangled  forest  which  lay  beyond,  the 
army  continued  its  march  along  the  western  boundary  of  Lake 
Champlain,  under  increasing  difficulties  of  transportation  and 
subsistence.  Meantime  the  second  part  of  the  British  plan  of 


CAMPAIGNS  OF  1777.  67 

campaign  was  put  into  execution.  On  the  I3th  of  June  Howe 
started  across  New  Jersey  from  his  camp  on  Staten  Island,  in 
an  endeavor  to  bring  Washington  to  battle  under  conditions 
favorable  to  British  success.  Failing  in  this  attempt  (for 
Washington  proved  too  wary),  Howe  returned  to  his  camp  to 
make  preparations  for  approaching  Philadelphia  by  water. 
June  1 8th  Burgoyne  was  near  Crown  Point,  engaging  the  serv- 
ices of  four  hundred  warriors  of  the  Five  Nations.  He  then 
proceeded  to  Ticonderoga,  appearing  before  that  stronghold  on 
July  ist,  on  which  date  Howe  was  embarking  his  troops  for  the 
expedition  against  Philadelphia.  The  garrison  of  Ticonderoga, 
thirty-five  hundred  strong,  under  Gen.  St.  Clair,  was  compelled 
to  evacuate  the  fortress  and  retired  in  haste,  hotly  pursued  by 
the  British  advance  corps.  At  Hubbardton,  on  July  7th,  three 
regiments  of  St.  Clair's  force  were  overtaken,  defeated,  and 
dispersed.  Burgoyne  pushed  on,  though  under  increasing  dif- 
ficulties, compelling  the  Americans  to  abandon  all  their  ad- 
vanced posts. 

The  plan  of  Burgoyne's  expedition  included  a  diversion  into 
the  Mohawk  valley ;  for  this  purpose  Col.  St.  Leger,  with  a 
force  of  Tories  and  Indians,  was  detailed  and  appeared  before 
Fort  Stanwix,  the  extreme  left  of  the  American  defensive  line, 
on  the  3d  of  August.  He  met  with  a  gallant  resistance,  and, 
being  unable  to  make  any  impression  on  the  works,  sat  down  to 
a  siege.  Meanwhile  Burgoyne's  slow  progress  was  exhausting 
his  supplies,  and  his  troops  were  becoming  disheartened  by  the 
unusual  toils  and  fatigues  of  the  march.  Detachments  under 
Colonels  Baum  and  Breyman,  sent,  toward  the  American  right 
to  obtain  recruits,  horses,  forage,  and  supplies,  were  cut  to 
pieces  at  Bennington  on  the  i6th  by  Green  Mountain  militia 
under  Stark  and  Warner.  This  disaster,  the  first  serious  re- 
verse which  Burgoyne  had  suffered,  cost  him  the  support  of 
his  Indian  allies,  who  now  melted  away.  This  was  little  to  be 
regretted,  however,  as  they  would  not  observe  the  rules  of 
civilized  warfare,  and  the  atrocities  which  they  committed  in- 
censed the  inhabitants  of  the  region  through  which  they  passed. 
Soon  after  the  affair  at  Bennington  the  approach  of  an  Ameri- 
can relief  column  under  Arnold  compelled  St.  Leger  to  raise 
the  siege  of  Fort  Stanwix,  and  he  retreated  precipitately  on 
Aug.  22d  with  the  loss  of  his  stores  and  camp  equipage.  It  was 


68  CAMPAIGNS  OF  1777. 

on  this  day  that  the  fleet  of  Howe  entered  the  Chesapeake.  The 
British  commander  had  at  first  attempted  the  passage  by  way 
of  the  Delaware,  but,  finding  the  river  well  protected  and  ob- 
structed, made  a  detour  into  Chesapeake  Bay  and  landed  at 
the  Head  of  Elk  on  Aug.  27th.  Here  he  disembarked  and  ad- 
vanced cautiously  toward  Philadelphia,  finding  the  army  of 
Washington  concentrated  in  his  front.  The  hostile  forces  met 
at  Chadd's  Ford,  on  the  Brandywine,  on  the  nth  of  Septem- 
ber ;  the  Americans  were  defeated  and  fell  back  to  Philadel- 
phia, which  they  presently  evacuated,  and  the  British  entered 
the  city  in  triumph,  thus  bringing  one  part  of  the  British  mili- 
tary programme  to  a  successful  termination. 

With  Burgoyne,  however,  matters  were  taking  a  much  less 
favorable  course.  As  previously  stated,  his  progress  through 
the  untrodden  wilderness  had  been  so  slow  that  his  supplies 
gave  out  and  were  replenished  with  difficulty ;  the  unremitting 
toils  and  fatigues  of  the  march  disheartened  his  troops ;  disci- 
pline relaxed,  and  desertions  were  numerous.  Advancing  for 
short  distances  every  day,  and  halting  every  night,  Burgoyne 
at  last  reached  the  Hudson  River,  and,  crossing  his  army  on 
the  1 3th  of  September,  encamped  near  Saratoga. 

The  disposition  of  the  American  forces  at  this  time  was : 
Washington,  with  the  main  army,  in  Pennsylvania ;  Putnam, 
with  a  weak  force,  in  charge  of  the  defenses  of  the  Highlands ; 
Gates,  with  six  thousand  men,  confronting  Burgoyne  at  Sara- 
toga. The  region  in  which  the  two  armies  were  about  to  en- 
gage in  deadly  conflict  was  a  hilly  section,  covered  with  forests 
interspersed  with  cultivated  clearings. 

The  Connecticut  militia,  soon  to  be  ordered  to  the  Hudson, 
were  at  this  time  much  in  need  of  camp  equipage  and  quarter- 
master's supplies,  and  a  requisition  had  been  made  upon  the 
towns  for  certain  necessary  articles.  For  the  purpose  of  pro- 
viding these,  the  townsmen  of  Redding  met  and  voted : 

"  Sept.  18,  1777.  — ...  Also  voted  at  said  meeting  that  the  In- 
junction or  Request  from  his  Excellency  the  Governor  and  Council  of 
Safety  be  Complied  with  and  that  David  Sanford  David  Starr  Dan11 
Mallery  Nehemiah  Hull  Afahel  Fitch,  Nath"  Barlow  Theopus  Hull 
John  Hull  Ebenr  Andrews  Zalmon  Read  Ephraim  Robbins  and  Stephen 
Betts  be  a  Comtee  to  procure  and  get  Dubble  the  Articles  (if  they  can) 
mentioned  in  the  Governor's  said  Request  and  that  the  said  Comtee  be 
paid  by  the  Town  the  Extrodanary  Charges  the  said  Articles  may  Cost 
more  than  they  are  set  at  in  the  said  Request." 


BATTLE   OF  SARATOGA. 


69 


After  which,  it  may  be  safely  assumed,  they  discussed  with 
interest  and  animation  the  state  of  military  affairs  in  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania.  More  exciting  was  this  day  on  the 
banks  of  the  Hudson,  for  the  two  armies  had  now  arrived 
within  striking  distance  of  each  other,  and  a  preliminary 
skirmish  took  place.  On  the  I9th  Burgoyne  left  his  camp  and 
advanced  his  troops  to  the  front  in  three  divisions.  After  a 
march  of  some  hours'  duration  he  found  himself  confronted  by 
the  Americans  in  force,  and  a  desperate  conflict  ensued.  The 
British,  supported  by  their  artillery,  occupied  the  crest  of  a 
ridge  thinly  wooded  with  pines.  The  Americans  were  pro- 
tected by  a  thick  forest,  in  which  the  use  of  artillery  was  im- 
practicable, but  some  of  their  riflemen  took  post  in  the  trees 
in  the  edge  of  the  woods  and  harassed  the  enemy  with  a  deadly 
fire.  Between  the  two  armies  lay  an  open  field,  across  which 
the  opposing  battalions  charged  repeatedly  without  decided  ad- 
vantage to  either  side.  At  every  charge  the  British  artillery 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  but  before  it  could  be 
dragged  off  or  turned  upon  the  enemy  the  British  troops  rallied, 
charged  in  their  turn,  and  drove  the  American  forces  back  to 
the  cover  of  the  forest.  From  three  o'clock  till  seven  of  that 
September  afternoon  the  conflict  raged  with  unabated  fury. 
The  approach  of  night  put  an  end  to  the  struggle,  and  the 
British,  in  a  much  exhausted  condition,  were  left  in  possession 
of  the  field.  The  carnage  had  been  fearful  —  500  British  and 
300  American  soldiers  had  fallen,  and  the  field  was  strewn  with 
the  wreck  of  battle  —  broken  arms,  scattered  equipments,  dis- 
mounted cannon,  damaged  ammunition  wagons,  dead  horses, 
and  slain  men  in  heaps  where  the  fight  had  been  fiercest,  while 
in  the  tree-tops  the  bodies  of  several  Ineless  American  marks- 
men who  had  been  killed  by  the  sure  aim  of  loyalist  riflemen 
hung  from  the  limbs  and  swayed  in  the  wind.  At  the  field 
hospitals  in  rear  of  the  lines  heart-rending  scenes  of  suffering 
were  occurring.  Probably  no  important  engagement  of  the 
American  Revolution  was  more  fiercely  contested  than  this 
action  on  Bemis  Heights  on  the  I9th  of  September,  1777.  Con- 
necticut had  two  regiments  engaged  in  this  battle,  commanded 
by  Colonels  Cook  and  Latimer. 

The  British  army  entrenched  on  the  field  of  battle,  the 
Americans,  emboldened  by  their  success  in  withstanding  the 


7o  CAMPAIGNS  OF  1777. 

forces  of  Britain,  prepared  for  still  more  aggressive  operations. 
The  results  of  the  battle  were  regarded  as  highly  favorable  to 
the  patriot  arms,  and  the  men  of  New  England,  elated  with 
success,  and  alive  to  the  danger  of  failure,  poured  into  the  camp 
of  Gates,  more  than  doubling  the  size  of  his  army,  and  eager 
to  take  part  in  the  final  overthrow  of  their  enemies.  Detach- 
ments sent  to  the  northward  captured  Burgoyne's  outposts  up 
to  the  very  walls  of  Ticonderoga,  and  the  British  commander, 
hemmed  in  on  all  sides,  encumbered  with  sick  and  wounded, 
and  cut  off  from  further  supplies,  was  reduced  to  the  desperate 
extremity  of  cutting  his  way,  either  forward  or  back,  through 
the  ranks  of  an  exultant  and  powerful  enemy,  flushed  with 
success  and  confident  of  victory,  with  an  army  reduced  to 
barely  four  thousand  effective  men.  Entrenched  on  the  field 
of  conflict,  the  British  leader  waited  vainly  for  the  arrival  of  a 
relief  force  from  New  York,  his  army  growing  weaker,  while 
that  of  Gates  daily  increased  in  numbers. 

After  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine,  Washington  sent  to 
Putnam  for  a  reinforcement  of  twelve  hundred  men,  and  four 
Connecticut  regiments  were  detached  and  sent  to  aid  him, 
among  them  the  Fifth,  Col.  Bradley's  regiment,  with  Capt. 
Ezekiel  Sanford  and  other  Redding  men  in  its  ranks.  After 
the  arrival  of  this  force,  Washington  proceeded  to  carry  out  a 
movement  which,  had  it  resulted  favorably  for  the  American 
arms,  would  have  added  new  laurels  to  the  fame  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  and  might  have  hastened  the  termination  of 
the  war.  Having  learned  that  a  portion  of  the  British  army 
was  detached  for  special  service  along  the  Delaware  below 
Philadelphia,  Washington  determined  to  attack  the  main  body 
at  Germantown  while  it  was  thus  temporarily  weakened.  Di- 
viding his  forces  into  four  columns  —  two  of  Continentals,  who 
were  to  attack  in  front,  and  two  of  militia,  who  were  to  gain  the 
enemy's  flanks  —  Washington  put  them  in  motion  on  the  3d 
of  October,  and  after  marching  nearly  all  night  came  suddenly 
upon  the  British  encampment  at  sunrise  of  the  4th.  The  sur- 
prise was  complete,  and  the  enemy  were  at  first  thrown  into 
disorder.  Unfortunately,  a  heavy  fog  prevailed,  which  ren- 
dered it  difficult  to  locate  the  British  positions  or  to  keep  the 
attacking  divisions  in  touch  with  each  other.  The  enemy's 
light  infantry  occupied  a  stone  house  in  the  line  of  the  Amer- 


/    -h. 


CAMPAIGNS  OF  1777.  ?l 

ican  advance  and  succeeded  in  delaying  their  opponents  till  the 
British  recovered  from  the  shock  of  surprise  and  rallied  for 
effective  defense.  It  was  near  or  about  the  Chew  house  (as 
it  was  called)  that  the  Fifth  Connecticut  was  principally  en- 
gaged. The  British,  rallying  from  their  confusion,  took  the 
offensive  and  drove  the  Americans  in  turn.  After  a  sharp  con- 
test Washington's  troops  retreated  to  camp,  hotly  pursued  by 
the  British  for  several  miles.  The  losses  on  each  side  were 
considerable,  that  of  the  British  being  about  600  [Gen.  Agnew, 
of  Danbury  fame,  being  among  the  killed],  while  the  Ameri- 
cans lost  1,000,  of  whom  400  were  taken  .prisoners.  Though 
unsuccessful  in  its  execution,  this  movement  taught  the  British 
to  entertain  greater  respect  for  Washington's  abilities  as  a 
commander  and  to  observe  greater  caution  in  guarding  against 
attacks. 

On  the  very  next  day  after  the  action  at  Germantown, 
sounds  of  battle  were  again  heard  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson. 
Clinton  at  last  began  a  diversion  for  the  relief  of  Burgoyne 
and  an  expedition  sent  up  into  the  Highlands  succeeded  in  cap- 
turing Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery  after  a  sharp  fight.  The 
river  was  now  practically  under  the  control  of  the  British  —  it 
only  remained  necessary  to  send  forward  a  sufficient  force  to 
relieve  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga.  Putnam's  force  was  too  small 
to  offer  any  serious  resistance.  Reinforcements,  however, 
were  sent  to  his  aid.  The  militia  of  western  Connecticut  was 
ordered  to  his  relief,  and  on  the  same  day  that  the  Highland 
forts  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  some  of  these  troops  were 
on  the  march  to  the  North  River.  Among  these  forces  was 
the  Fourth  Connecticut  militia,  which  has  been  previously  re- 
ferred to  in  these  pages.  The  peculiarities  of  the  militia  or- 
ganization of  that  period  were  well  illustrated  in  the  formation 
of  this  regiment.  No  less  than  sixteen  different  company  or- 
ganizations reported  for  duty  under  one  regimental  com- 
mander, these  bodies  ranging  in  number  from  squads  of  five  to 
respectable  companies  of  thirty-five  or  forty  men.  Redding 
had  two  companies  in  this  regiment  under  Captains  Gray  and 
Morehouse.  The  company  rolls  are  given  in  full : 


72  BATTLE   OF  SARATOGA. 

CAPTAIN  GRAY'S  COMPANY. 

Captain  John  Gray  Private  Jonas  Platt 

Lieutenant  Nehemiah  Hull  Zalmon  Read 

Ensign  Aaron  Barlow  Jeremiah  Batterson 

Sergt.  Philip  Burret  Wilm  Hait 

"       George  Perry  Asahel  Salmon 

"       David  Osborn  John  Hull  Jr 

Corpl.  Ezekiel  Burr  Ezra  Sanford 

"       Francis  Andress  John  Hull 

"       Sam11  Fairchild  .        Elijah  Morehouse 

"       Justus  Bates  Dan11  Mallery 

Private  Elijah  Couch  Thomas  Sherwood 

Ezra  Hull  Gershom  Salmon 

Jesse  Coley  Joseph  Griffen 

David  Sanford  Seth  Meeker 

Stephen  Burr  Jonathan  Andress 

Stephen  Fairchild  Stephen  Adams 

David  Sturges  Zalmon  Hull 

CAPTAIN  MOREHOUSE'S  COMPANY. 

Captain  Gershom  Morehouse  Ephrem  Robins 

Lieutenant  Wm  Hawley  Asal  Peech  (Fitch?) 

Ensign  Seth  Sanford  Nathan  Burr 

Sargent  Gershom  Coley  Daniel  Barlet 

Corpl  Samuel  Gold  Jaby  Grigery 

Stephen  Bets  Aron  Morhous 

James  Hull  Isaac  Gorham 
Aron  Sanford  [Rec.  Ct.  Men  in  Rev.] 

The  regiment  numbered  about  360  men  all  told,  and  was 
mainly  employed  in  transporting  stores  from  Peekskill  to  Fish- 
kill,  at  which  point  Putnam  concentrated  his  forces. 

We  return  now  to  Burgoyne,  whose  desperate  situation 
rendered  immediate  action  necessary,  and  two  days  after  the 
fall  of  the  Highland  forts,  when  relief  was  preparing  for  him, 
he  attempted  a  reconnoissance  in  force,  in  the  vain  hope  of 
opening  some  avenue  of  escape.  The  effort  was  made  on 
October  7th,  with  fifteen  hundred  picked  troops,  but  no  sooner 
had  these  appeared  outside  their  works  than  they  were  furi- 
ously attacked  by  the  American  forces.  The  conflict  soon  in- 
volved the  entire  British  line,  and  was  fought  out  with  the 
utmost  obstinacy,  neither  side  giving  way;  breaches  in  the 
ranks  were  filled  with  fresh  combatants,  and  the  contest  con- 
tinued with  unremitting  vigor.  Suddenly  a  general  officer 
appeared  on  the  field,  rode  swiftly  to  the  American  front,  and, 


BATTLE   OF  SARATOGA. 


73 


placing  himself  in  advance  of  the  line,  led  the  provincials  to 
a  decisive  charge.  It  was  Arnold  —  fiery,  impetuous,  un- 
daunted as  ever  —  the  Arnold  of  Quebec,  and  Lake  Champlain, 
and  Ridgefield.  Riding  from  point  to  point,  he  encouraged 
and  animated  the  soldiers  by  voice  and  example,  leading  now 
one  brigade,  now  another,  in  a  furious  charge  on  the  enemy's 
line,  which  finally  broke  in  disorder  and  retreated  to  the  works. 
Arnold,  still  fighting  furiously,  fell  wounded  at  last,  his  horse 
shot  under  him,  before  the  intrenchments  of  the  German 
brigade.  The  British  were  driven  to  cover,  and  the  Americans 
gained  and  kept  possession  of  a  part  of  the  works,  in  spite  of 
desperate  efforts  to  dislodge  them.  Burgoyne  could  no  longer 
maintain  his  position,  and  secretly  withdrew  in  the  night  to  a 
stronger  post  in  the  rear.  But  stronger  grew  the  cordon  of 
his  enemies,  and  more  desperate  his  own  situation.  No  news 
could  be  obtained  from  New  York,  though  relief  was  even 
then  on  the  way,  and  a  council  of  war  advised  surrender.  Un- 
conditional surrender,  at  first  demanded  by  Gates,  was  refused, 
but,  knowing  that  a  British  column  was  approaching,  the  Ameri- 
can commander  agreed  that  the  defeated  troops  should  march 
out  with  the  honors  of  war,  lay  down  their  arms,  and  be  con- 
ducted to  Boston,  there  to  embark  for  England,  not  to  serve 
further  against  the  United  States  unless  regularly  exchanged. 
On  these  terms  5,642  prisoners,  with  42  pieces  of  ordnance, 
7,000  muskets,  clothing  for  the  same  number  of  men,  camp* 
equipage  and  stores,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors,  and  on 
October  i6th  the  invasion  of  Burgoyne  reached  its  unhappy 
termination.  Unhappy  only  to  the  vanquished  host  and  its 
sympathizers,  for  great  was  the  rejoicing  among  the  colonists 
when  the  news  came  that  an  entire  British  army  had  suc- 
cumbed to  patriot  valor.  The  conquered  troops  marched  to 
Boston,  but  the  terms  of  surrender  were  not  respected  by  Con- 
gress, and  the  prisoners  were  finally  sent  to  Virginia,  remaining 
there  till  the  close  of  the  war,  many  of  them  being  afterward 
absorbed  into  the  citizenship  of  the  new  republic. 

The  forces  of  Gates  returned  to  their  homes  amid  general 
rejoicing,  bearing  with  them  the  spoils  of  the  campaign.  The 
militia  which  had  been  sent  to  the  aid  of  Putnam  was  also  dis- 
charged, and  on  the  3Oth  of  October  the  Fourth  Regiment  was 
on  its  homeward  march.  A  number  of  men  from  this  regiment 
6 


74  '  V ALLEY  FORGE. 

returned  before  that  date,  some  having-  absented  themselves 
without  leave,  a  breach  of  discipline  quite  too  common  among 
the  militia  during  the  war.  In  consequence  of  this  defection, 
the  last  seven  men  on  the  roll  of  Captain  Gray's  company  were 
returned  as  "  deserters."  They  did  not  go  to  the  enemy,  but 
went  back  to  their  homes  and  families,  and  several  of  them 
are  known  to  have  rendered  further  service  to  their  country. 

The  army  of  Washington,  unable  to  make  any  further 
demonstration  against  the  enemy,  was  how  placed  in  winter 
quarters  at  Valley  Forge,  twenty  miles  from  Philadelphia. 
Eleven  thousand  soldiers  were  quartered  in  huts  in  this  en- 
campment, and  strong  detachments  were  stationed  at  various 
points  around  Philadelphia,  confining  the  British  pretty  closely 
to  the  vicinity  of  the  city.  As  winter  came  on  the  condition  of 
the  two  armies  appeared  in  marked  contrast  —  the  British, 
comfortably  housed  in  the  city,  were  plentifully  supplied  by 
the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country,  paying  for  this 
service  in  gold ;  the  Americans  obtained  provisions  and  supplies 
only  with  the  greatest  difficulty,  offering  a  depreciated  cur- 
rency in  payment,  and  were  finally  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 
taking  cattle  and  corn  wherever  they  could.  In  spite  of  their 
utmost  exertions,  famine  often  prevailed  in  camp,  and  the 
clothing  of  the  troops  became  so  completely  worn  out  that  they 
were  reduced  to  the  severest  straits  for  sufficient  covering  to 
protect  their  chilled  and  famished  bodies.  Soldiers  detailed 
for  guard  were  obliged  to  borrow  the  garments  of  their  com- 
rades before  they  could  go  on  duty.  Shoes  were  wanting; 
many  were  barefoot,  and  tracked  the  snow  with  blood  from 
their  frozen  feet,  and  the  need  of  clothing  was  so  extreme  that 
an  eyewitness  declares  that  there  was  "  many  a  good  lad 
with  nothing  to  cover  him  from  his  hips  to  his  toes  but  his 
blanket."  The  winter  was  unusually  severe,  and  many  soldiers 
were  frostbitten,  but  they  endured  these  privations  with  pa- 
tience and  fortitude.  The  Fifth  Connecticut  regiment  was 
among  the  troops  who  endured  the  rigors  of  that  terrible 
season,  which  wore  away  at  last,  though  the  suffering  it  caused 
did  not  wholly  pass  with  the  bitterness  of  winter. 

At  home,  the  people  were  trying  to  do  their  duty  toward 
the  helpless  families  whose  bread-winners  were  shivering 
around  the  comfortless  campfires,  as  our  records  set  forth: 


THE    PETITION. 


75 


"Dec.  22,  1777.  —  Micajah  Starr  Hezekiah  Read  David  Jackson 
Timothy  Sanford  David  Sanford  Nehemiah  Hull  Seth  Meeker  and 
Joseph  Banks  were  Appointed  a  Comtee  to  take  care  of  Soldiers  Fam- 
alys  in  this  Town. 

Aaron  Barlow  Capt.  Z.  Read  Stephen  Betts  Benjm  Darling  and 
Gershom  Morehouse  were  Chosen  Comtee  of  Inspection." 

In  the  spring  came  the  joyful  news  of  the  alliance  with 
France,  and  the  patriots  found  occasion  for  rejoicing  amid 
their  privations,  for  the  fleets  and  armies  of  the  French  king 
were  corning  to  their  assistance.  The  ragged,  famished,  and 
frostbitten  army  at  Valley  Forge  fell  into  line,  fired  a  volley, 
and  gave  hearty  cheers  and  heartfelt  thanks  when  the  welcome 
announcement  was  made.  The  spirits  of  the  people  rallied 
again;  renewed  efforts  were  made  to  supply  the  troops  with 
clothing  and  provisions,  and  to  obtain  recruits.  Requisitions 
for  the  filling  up  of  town  quotas  had  been  made  —  that  of 
Redding  was  set  so  high  as  to  call  forth  a  remonstrance  to  the 
legislature,  setting  forth  fully  the  reasons  for  noncompliance 
with  the  demand. 

PETITION  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  REDDING. 

"February,  1778. 

To  the  Honorable  Gen.  Assembly,  sitting  in  Feb.  1778,  by  adjournment, 
at  Hartford. 

The  petition  of  the  civil  authority  and  selectmen  of  the  town  of 
Redding,  in  Fairfield  Co.,  humbly  sheweth  —  That  the  town  of  Red- 
ding is  laboring  at  present,  under  so  many  misfortunes  and  liabilities, 
peculiar  to  ourselves,  that  are  not  common  to  the  other  towns  of  this 
State,  makes  it  almost,  if  not  altogether  impossible  for  us  to  raise  the 
proportion  of  men  for  the  continental  army  as  set  to  us  by  your 
Honors :  we  hope  that  we  are  and  have  always  been  willing  to  do  our 
equal  part  in  maintaining  the  common  cause  of  America,  and  have  ex- 
erted ourselves  therein,  always  to  the  utmost  of  our  abilities;  yet  we, 
your  petitioners,  think  it  our  indispensable  duty,  which  we  owe  to  our- 
selves and  our  brethren  of  this  town,  to  inform  your  Honors,  that 
since  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  that  no  less  than  49  able- 
bodied,  effective  men,  all  inhabitants  of  this  town,  have  been  so  in- 
humanly wicked  and  infatuated  as  to  leave  their  friends,  and  most  of 
them  their  families,  and  join  the  ministerial  army,  enemies  of  this  and 
the  other  United  States  of  America,  where  they  still  remain ;  and  also 
out  of  those  who  were  made  prisoners  by  said  enemy  in  their  expedition 
to  Danbury,  six  persons,  inhabitants  as  aforesaid,  died ;  and  we  your  peti- 
tioners, would  farther  inform  your  Honors,  that  we  have  now  enlisted 
and  engaged  in  the  service  during  the  present  war,  nine  men  more  as 


76  THE    PETITION. 

artificers,  which  has  greatly  thinned  the  inhabitants  of  this,  so  small  a 
town,  all  which  inconveniences  and  misfortunes  we  labor  under,  over 
and  above  what  we  share  in  common  with  the  other  towns  of  this 
State;  wherefore  we  flatter  ourselves  that  had  your  Honors  been  duly 
notified  of  our  peculiar  circumstances,  your  Honors  would  not,  (con- 
sidering the  smallness  of  our  town,  and  the  many  families  we  have  to 
support,  whose  estates  are  confiscated,)  have  set  our  proportion  of  men 
to  be  raised  so  high,  as  at  present  it  is  set.  We,  your  Honors'  petition- 
ers, therefore,  pray  your  Honors  to  take  our  case  and  particular  circum- 
stances into  your  wise  consideration,  and  in  your  great  goodness,  grant 
us  relief  in  the  premises,  and  set  our  proportion  of  men  to  be  raised, 
according  to  the  number  of  our  present  able-bodied,  effective  men ;  and 
your  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

49  gone  to  the  enemy,  6  dead  prisoners,  9.  artificers  —  total,  64. 
Redding,  Feb.  13,  1778. 
(Signed) 

Lemuel   Sanford,   William   Hawley,   Justices   of 

the  Peace. 
Hezekiah  Sanford,  William  Heron,  John  Gray, 

Thaddeus  Benedict,  Selectmen. 

These  certify  that  that  there  are  but  112  able-bodied,  effective  men, 
in  both  our  train-bands  or  companies,  liable  to  do  duty  out  of  the  State, 
and  that  there  has  enlisted  into  the  continental  army  out  of  Redding,  28 
men. 

Redding,  Feb.  13,  1778. 
Certified  per 

JOHN  GRAY,  captain  of  the  alarm-list,  and  trainband." 

[Hinman:  War  Am.  Rev.] 

Redding  continued  to  show  her  willingness  to  provide  for 
the  brave  soldiers  who  were  battljng  for  liberty,  and  to  care 
for  the  families  of  her  defenders,  as  the  records  attest: 

"  March  23,  1778.  —  Mefsrs  David  Jackson  Zalmon  Read  and  Ephm 
Robbins  Chosen  a  Comtee  to  provide  Clothing  for  the  Army  &c." 

"  May  8,  1778.  —  Afahel  Fitch  Appointed  to  take  Care  and  provide 
as  the  Law  directs  of  Nathan  Coley's  Famaly. 

Dr  A.  Fitch  and  Capt.  Z.  Read  Chosen  a  Comtee  to  Provide  Shirts 
Shoes  and  Stockins  &c  for  the  Continental  Soldiers. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  tax  a  Bill  to  pay  the  Comtee  for  Clothing 
for  their  trouble  in  Procuring  said  Shirts  &c." 

On  the  8th  of  June  the  fleet  of  D'Estaing  appeared  off  the 
American  coast,  and  the  British  commanders,  alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  New  York,  their  most  important  stronghold,  with- 
drew the  fleet  from  the  Delaware  and  the  army  from  Phila- 
delphia. Sir  William  Howe  had  been  relieved  at  his  own  re- 


BATTLE  OF  MONMOUTH.  77 

quest,  and  the  chief  command  devolved  on  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 
He  abandoned  Philadelphia  late  in  June,  and,  crossing  into 
New  Jersey,  pushed  toward  New  York,  but,  encumbered  by  a 
heavy  wagon  train,  his  progress  was  slow.  Washington  left 
camp  with  his  whole  army  and  started  in  swift  pursuit.  On 
the  28th  of  June,  a  day  of  sweltering  heat,  he  overtook  the 
British  »near  Monmouth  Court-House,  and  ordered  an  im- 
mediate attack.  Gen.  Charles  Lee,  who  commanded  the  Ameri- 
can advance,  professing  to  misunderstand  Washington's  orders, 
failed  to  secure  the  advantage  which  presented  itself,  marched 
and  countermarched  his  troops  in  the  hot  sun  till  numbers  fell 
from  exhaustion,  and  finally  allowed  his  men  to  retreat  in 
disorder  before  the  counter-attack  of  Clinton.  Washington, 
arriving  upon  the  field  at  this  juncture,  checked  the  retreat, 
reprimanded  Lee,  transferred  the  command  of  the  right  wing 
to  Greene,  and  the  day  was  saved,  though  not  with  the  ex- 
pected results.  Clinton  made  his  escape  to  Staten  Island,  and 
Philadelphia  and  the  Jerseys  were  again  in  the  hands  of  the 
Americans.  The  battle  losses  were  considerable:  those  of  the 
American  forces  were  estimated  at  two  hundred,  those  of  the 
British  at  three  hundred.  This  by  no  means  represents  the 
total  loss  of  the  enemy,  for  during  the  march  across  the  Jerseys 
upward  of  fifteen  hundred  British  and  Hessian  soldiers  decided 
to  return  to  the  wives  and  sweethearts  they  had  left  in  and 
around  Philadelphia,  where  they  later  reappeared  as  men  of 
family  and  citizens  of  the  American  nation.  The  extreme  heat 
of  the  day  increased  the  fatalities  of  the  action,  some  soldiers 
dying  from  sunstroke ;  others,  suffering  from  the  insupportable 
heat,  drank  water  to  excess,  from  the  effects  of  which  they 
perished. 


VI. 

ENCAMPMENT   AT   REDDING  — THE   MUTINY  — THE   EXE- 
CUTIONS—AMERICAN UNION  LODGE. 

THE  British,  having  evacuated  Philadelphia,  were  now  re- 
stricted to  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Newport,  leaving  the 
surrounding  country  practically  clear  of  hostile  forces.  At 
New  York  they  were  heavily  reinforced,  in  anticipation  of 
attack.  Washington  moved  his  troops  across  the  Hudson  and 
took  post  at  White  Plains,  where  he  concentrated  the  largest 
army  he  had  ever  commanded,  consisting  of  fifteen  brigades 
of  infantry,  four  battalions  of  artillery,  four  regiments  of 
cavalry,  and  several  detachments  of  state  troops,  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  the  season  in  futile  efforts  to  obtain  sufficient 
supplies  and  munitions  of  war  to  warrant  an  attempt  on  New 
York.  No  doubt  he  would  have  been  more  than  pleased  to 
drive  the  British  out  of  the  stronghold  from  which  they  had 
expelled  him  two  years  before,  but  this  satisfaction  was  denied 
him.  At  no  time  was  he  sufficiently  prepared  or  strong  enough 
to  make  an  attack  —  Congress  and  the  states  but  poorly  sec- 
onded his  efforts.  An  abortive  attempt  to  drive  the  British  out 
of  Newport  only  added  to  his  disappointment,  and  the  season 
wore  away  without  advantage  to  the  American  ^rms.  On  the 
approach  of  winter,  Washington  broke  up  his  camp  at  White 
Plains,  and  moved  the  various  divisions  to  points  in  the  ad- 
joining states,  where  they  could  be  more  easily  subsisted,  and 
more  readily  aid  in  suppressing  the  activities  of  the  tories.  The 
Connecticut  Division,  under  Putnam,  with  Poor's  New  Hamp- 
shire Brigade,  the  infantry  of  Hazen,  and  Sheldon's  Light 
Dragoons  were  ordered  to  Redding,  and  at  7  A.  M.  of  the  23d 
of  October  part  of  these  troops  were  on  the  march  for  New 
Milford,  under  command  of  Ma j. -Gen.  McDougall.  On  the 
2$th  the  troops  reached  New  Milford,  where  they  encamped 
till  November  iQth,  probably  awaiting  the  completion  of  their 
new  quarters  in  Redding.  The  sawmills  of  the  town  were 
busily  engaged  in  cutting  the  lumber  from  which  the  rude 
huts  were  made,  and  the  people  waited  in  joyful  anticipation 
the  coming  of  the  soldiers,  for  now  no  British  column  would 


PUTNAM'S  HEADQUARTERS  AT  REDDING. 


RESIDENCE  OP  MR.  EPHRAIM  BARLOW. 
Said  to  have  been  used  as  a  guardhouse  in  the  Revolution. 


THE    ENCAMPMENT.  79 

venture  into  their  territory,  no  restless  tory  would  dare  to 
desert  his  family  and  fly  to  the  standard  of  King  George.  And 
they  came  at  last,  —  rough,  hardy,  war-seasoned  veterans ; 
heroes  of  Bunker  Hill;  men  who  had  learned  lessons  of  ad- 
versity in  the  Long  Island  campaign;  victors  of  Saratoga; 
soldiers  who  had  fought  at  Germantown,  had  endured  the 
rigors  of  Valley  Forge,  and  the  heat  of  Monmouth;  men  who 
had  made  history,  and  were  yet  to  make  more.  The  canton- 
ments were  perhaps  not  quite  ready  for  them.  It  is  stated  that 
Huntington's  brigade  encamped  near  the  center  of  the  town; 
Parsons'  on  the  Ridge  —  evidently  a  temporary  arrangement, 
for  presently  the  Connecticut  Division  was  concentrated  in 
the  wooded  valley  which  lies  between  Lonetown  and  the  Ridge ; 
the  New  Hampshire  brigade  lay  about  a  mile  further  west, 
in  a  similar  location,  while  farther  away,  in  the  deep,  wide 
valley  of  the  headwaters  of  the  Saugatuck,  the  light  infantry 
and  cavalry  were  hutted  for  the  winter,  a  mile  in  rear  of  Put- 
nam's headquarters,  which  were  located  on  a  by-road  on  the 
northern  slope  of  Umpawaug  Hill.  Another  house,  near  by, 
on  the  Boston  post-road,  is  said  to  have  been  used  as  a  guard- 
house. In  this  position  Putnam  was  able  to  support  the  gar- 
rison of  the  Highlands,  guard  the  coast  of  the  Sound,  and 
repress  the  activities  of  the  tories,  who  were  again  becoming 
troublesome,  probably  incited  by  British  emissaries.  One 
meanls  of  stimulating  their  zeal  is  shown  in  a  notice  which  ap- 
peared in  a  New  York  newspaper  under  date  of  June  29,  1778: 

"All  gentlemen  volunteers  able  and  willing  to  serve  his  Majesty  King 
George  III.  in  that  respectable  regiment  called  the  Prince  of  Wales 
Royal  Amer.  Vols.,  com'd  by  his  Excellency  Brig.  Gen.  Brown,  will 
hear  of  the  particular  advantages  of  that  corps  by  repairing  to  Lt.  Col. 
Pattison  at  his  camp  on  Lloyd's  Neck,  where  they  will  receive  a  com- 
plete suit  of  new  clothes,  arms,  accoutrements,  &c.,  and  one  guinea  more 
than  his  Majesty's  most  gracious  bounty.  'Tis  more  than  probable  those 
who  enlist  will  for  some  months  be  able  to  earn  15s  to  20s  per  day." 

With  this  addition  of  several  thousand  men  to  its  popula- 
tion, Redding  entered  upon  the  liveliest  and  most  interesting 
period  of  its  history.  As  the  brown  leaves  whirled  through 
the  forest,  and  the  November  winds  sighed  and  whistled 
through  the  bare  branches,  the  soldiers  settled  down  to  the 
life  and  work  of  the  camp.  There  were  drills,  parades,  reviews, 


80  THE    MUTINY. 

outpost  duty,  and  all  the  routine  of  soldier  life,  which  drew 
crowds  of  curious  and  admiring  onlookers.  Off  duty  the  sol- 
diers amused  themselves  in  such  ways  as  soldiers  are  wont  to 
do.  Imagination  easily  conjures  up  a  vision  of  the  sports 
and  pastimes,  the  games  at  cards,  the  rough  jokes  and  horse- 
play, which  contributed  to  the  entertainment  of  that  winter 
of  camp  life.  Many  amusing  incidents  occurred,  worthy  of 
permanent  preservation.  One  such  is  here  presented : 

A  resident  of  the  vicinity,  says  tradition,  had  a  contract  for 
supplying  rum  to  the  soldiers.  He  was  well  patronized,  and, 
as  the  liquor  diminished  in  quantity,  he  supplied  the  deficiency 
by  the  addition  of  water.  Finally  the  much-diluted  beverage 
froze,  and  the  cheat  was  discovered.  The  enraged  soldiers 
seized  the  offender,  bound  him  securely  astride  of  a  field-piece, 
and  then  —  fired  the  field-piece.  It  may  be  safely  assumed 
that  no  further  adulteration  of  spirits  was  attempted  that 
winter.  More  tragic  was  the  ending  of  a  snowballing  frolic, 
in  which  a  negro  soldier  was  struck  in  the  head  by  an  icy  mis- 
sile and  killed.  As  the  American  negro  was  not  then  the  man 
and  brother  he  has  since  become,  it  is  likely  that  the  affair  was 
dismissed  with  little  consideration. 

Those  members  of  the  Continental  Line  who  had  enlisted 
from  Redding  were  now  reunited  to  their  families,  many  of 
whom  were  in  need  of  aid.  For  the  relief  of  these,  our  towns- 
people (at  a  meeting  adjourned  from  December  i/th  to  the 
following  Wednesday  at  i  p.  M.)  provided  that: 

"The  Comtee  to  provide  for  Soldiers  Fami[lies]  Were  Nehemiah 
Hull  for  Nathan  Coley's  Elijah  Burr  for  Stephen  Meeker's  Ebenr 
Couch  for  Elias  Bixby  Elnathan  Sanford  [for]  Henry  Hopkins  Na- 
than Burr  for  Nehemiah  Sherwood  Zal  Read  for  Jeremiah  Ryans  and 
Wm  Hawley  for  Sam11  Remong." 

Meantime,  trouble  was  brewing  in  the  camp  of  the  Con- 
necticut Division.  Winter  had  set  in,  cold  and  stern ;  the  troops 
were  poorly  clothed,  poorly  fed,  insufficiently  covered  and 
sheltered;  the  depreciated  currency  in  which  they  were  paid 
was  practically  worthless ;  and  many  of  them  had  needy  fami- 
lies at  home.  Promises  made  them  had  not  been  fulfilled,  and 
their  privations  naturally  bred  discontent.  Four  of  the  Con- 
necticut regiments  —  Durkee's  and  Russell's  (late  Chandler's) 


THE    MUTINY.  8 1 

of  the  First  Brigade,  and  Bradley 's  and  Swift's  of  the  Second — 
had  spent  the  previous  winter  at  Valley  Forge,  and  had  little 
inclination  to  repeat  the  experience.  Dissatisfaction  increased 
as  the  rigors  of  the  season  grew  more  severe,  and  murmurs 
of  discontent  at  last  gave  place  to  the  clamorous  voice  of  open 
mutiny.  On  the  morning  of  December  3oth  the  troops  of  the 
Second  Brigade,  defying  the  authority  of  their  officers,  left 
their  quarters,  paraded  under  commanS  of  the  company  ser- 
geants, and  avowed  their  intention  of  marching  to  Hartford 
(over  fifty  miles  away),  where  the  legislature  was  then  in 
session,  there  to  demand  redress  of  grievances  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  if  need  be.  When  this  news  was  hurriedly  con- 
veyed to  headquarters  there  was  a  hasty  mounting  of  steeds, 
and  Putnam  and  his  staff  flew  down  into  the  valley  and  over 
the  rugged  hills  to  the  encampment.  As  the  general  rode 
across  the  hills,  he  must  have  been  earnestly  thinking.  The 
situation  was  not  one  which  admitted  of  coercive  measures  — 
the  whole  division  was  disaffected  and  ripe  for  revolt,  and  the 
trouble  might  readily  extend  to  the  remainder  of  his  command. 
It  was  an  occasion  for  the  use  of  diplomacy  and  a  test  of  per- 
sonal influence.  Arrived  at  the  camp-ground,  he  found  all 
in  a  state  of  excitement,  but  the  mutinous  brigade  was  still 
in  line,  the  order  to  march  not  yet  given.  As  the  general  rode 
along  the  line  he  was  received  with  the  honors  due  his  rank : 
the  drums  ruffled ;  at  the  sharp  word  of  command  every  musket 
was  brought  to  a  present;  then,  as  "Order-firelock"  was 
heard,  the  butts  of  the  muskets  dropped  to  earth,  and  the  sol- 
diers listened  with  attention  and  respect  to  the  voice  of  their 
commander.  Demanding  to  know  by  whose  orders  the  troops 
were  paraded,  he  was  informed  that  the  soldiers,  suffering 
from  the  inclemency  of  the  season,  deficient  in  clothing  and 
blankets,  paid  in  a  worthless  currency  or  scarcely  paid  at  all, 
and  exasperated  by  the  non-fulfillment  of  promises  made  them, 
were  about  to  seek  redress  at  the  hands  of  the  state  authorities. 
Putnam,  facing  the  line,  thus  earnestly  addressed  them: 

"  My  brave  lads,  whither  are  you  going  ?  Do  you  intend  to  desert 
your  officers,  and  to  invite  the  enemy  to  follow  you  into  the  country? 
Whose  cause  have  you  been  fighting  and  suffering  so  long  in  —  is  it  not 
your  own?  Have  you  no  property,  no  parents,  wives  or  children?  You 
have  behaved  like  men  so  far  —  all  the  world  is  full  of  your  praises  — 


82  THE    MUTINY. 

and  posterity  will  stand  astonished  at  your  deeds :  but  not  if  you  spoil 
all  at  last.  Don't  you  consider  how  much  the  country  is  distressed  by 
the  war,  and  that  your  officers  have  not  been  any  better  paid  than  your- 
selves? But  we  all  expect  better  times,  and  that  the  country  will  do  us 
ample  justice.  Let  us  all  stand  by  one  another,  then,  and  fight  it  out 
like  brave  soldiers.  Think  what  a  shame  it  would  be  for  Connecticut 
men  to  run  away  from  their  officers." 

Then,  turning  to  tfce  acting  major  of  brigade,  Putnam  di- 
rected him  to  march  the  troops  to  their  respective  parades  and 
lodge  their  arms.  The  magnetism  of  the  general's  presence 
and  manner,  the  regard  of  the  soldiers  for  a  popular  com- 
mander, and  the  habit  of  discipline,  produced  the  desired  effect. 
The  men  shouldered  their  firelocks  and  marched  to  their  quar- 
ters with  promptitude  and  apparent  good  humor,  and  the  im- 
mediate danger  was  past.  The  principal  ringleader  in  the 
affair  was  confined  in  the  quarterguard,  from  whence,  at  night, 
he  attempted  to  escape,  but  was  shot  dead  by  the  sentry  on 
duty,  who  had  himself  been  one  of  the  mutineers. 

Although  the  mutiny  was  thus  easily  suppressed,  the  sol- 
diers do  not  appear  to  have  fared  much  better,  and  though  they 
refrained  from  further  insubordination,  the  embers  of  discon- 
tent glowed  fitfully.  A  tragedy  was  impending,  and  soon  it 
was  at  hand.  Among  the  annoyances  with  which  Putnam 
had  to  contend  during  this  eventful  winter  was  the  facility  with 
which  tory  spies  penetrated  his  lines  and  made  themselves 
familiar  with  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  American  camp.  Also, 
desertions  depleted  his  ranks,  and  the  general  determined  that 
an  example  should  be  made  of  the  first  spy  or  deserter  who 
fell  into  his  hands.  Early  in  February  a  guard  from  one  of 
the  outposts  brought  to  headquarters  one  Edward  Jones,  who, 
it  was  claimed,  had  been  a  resident  of  the  vicinity,  had  gone 
over  to  the  enemy,  and  come  out  as  a  spy.  A  court-martial 
was  convened  on  the  4th,  before  which  Jones  testified  that  he 
was  a  Welshman  by  birth,  ever  loyal  to  his  king;  that  he  had 
been  a  resident  of  Ridgefield  till  the  beginning  of  the  war, 
whence  he  had  fled  to  the  British  for  protection;  that  he  had 
been  appointed  a  butcher  for  the  British  camp,  and  had  been 
sent  into  Westchester  County  to  purchase  beef  cattle  for  the 
use  of  the  king's  troops.  Upon  trial,  the  court-martial  de- 
clared him  guilty  on  all  the  charges  preferred  against  him,  and 


GALLOWS  HILL. 


THE    COURT-MARTIAL.  83 

he  was  sentenced  to  suffer  death.  Two  days  after,  another 
court-martial  was  held  to  consider  the  case  of  John  Smith,  a 
young  soldier  of  the  First  Connecticut  Regiment,  who  had  been 
captured  in  the  attempt  to  desert  and  had  boldly  declared  his 
intention  of  going  to  the  enemy  at  the  first  opportunity.  Him 
the  court-martial  also  condemned  to  death,  and  both  pris- 
oners were  confined  in  the  guardhouse  at  headquarters  to 
await  their  doom.  When  that  would  come  they  knew  not; 
they  only  knew  that  before  the  hour  of  noon  on  some  fateful 
day  they  would  cease  to  be.  During  this  interim  the  curious 
people  of  the  countryside  thronged  to  the  guardhouse,  eager 
to  see  the  doomed  men;  some  of  them,  to  their  disgrace  be  it 
said,  to  revile  and  taunt  and  jeer  the  miserable  wretches  who 
lay  there  under  the  shadow  of  death.  So  great  was  the  an- 
noyance to  the  prisoners  from  this'  cause  that  Putnam  was 
obliged  to  issue  an  order  forbidding  the  inhuman  practice. 

Public  sentiment  was,  perhaps,  not  altogether  adverse  to 
these  unfortunates:  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bartlett  interceded  with 
Putnam  in  behalf  of  Smith,  requesting  that  the  prisoner  be 
remanded  till  his  case  could  be  laid  before  Washington,  but 
to  no  purpose  —  the  general  was  inexorable,  and  the  awful 
tragedy  proceeded  to  its  close.  On  the  morning  of  February 
1 6th  the  last  scene  was  enacted  on  the  slope  of  that  eminence 
which  was  thenceforth  to  bear  the  name  of  Gallows  Hill.  The 
camps  were  astir  that  day,  and  the  Connecticut  troops  marched 
from  their  cantonments  to  the  place  of  execution,  accompanied 
by  the  New  Hampshire  brigade.  The  spot  where  the  two  un- 
fortunates expiated  their  fault  is  indicated  as  a  tiny  plateau 
on  the  western  slope  of  the  hill,  at  a  point  where  three  roads 
meet,  making  a  Y-shaped  junction.  Along  the  northern  road 
the  three  brigades  marched  to  their  positions  at  the  execution 
ground,  where  the  people  of  the  vicinity  were  gathered ;  and 
those  who  looked  to  the  westward  must  have  seen  the  prisoners 
and  their  escort  moving  down  the  slope  of  Umpawaug,  and 
from  the  valley-camp  below  caught  the  glint  of  Hazen's  bayo- 
nets and  the  flashing  sabers  of  Sheldon's  dragoons.  When  the 
columns  had  united,  the  troops  were  drawn  up  in  line  flanking 
the  fatal  spot,  in  full  view  of  the  condemned  men  and  the  in- 
struments of  death.  A  gallows  twenty  feet  high  had  been 
erected,  and  a  firing  party  waited  to  perform  its  dreadful  duty. 


84  THE    EXECUTIONS. 

The  execution  was  in  all  its  phases  a  painful  one,  the  memory 
of  which  was  probably  never  effaced  from  the  minds  of  those 
who  witnessed  it.  A  prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Bartlett,  and  the  boy  Smith  was  led  forward  to  his  doom. 
Placed  with  his  back  to  the  steep  slope  of  the  hill,  he  received 
the  volley  of  the  firing  party  from  muskets  held  so  near  that 
his  clothing  was  set  on  fire  by  the  discharge.  Three  bullets 
penetrated  his  breast;  he  fell  forward  upon  his  face,  and  im- 
mediately turned  convulsively  upon  his  back.  Signs  of  life  still 
remaining,  another  soldier  was  ordered  forward,  and,  pointing 
his  musket  at  the  lad's  head,  sent  a  bullet  through  his  brain. 
The  lifeless  body  was  lifted  into  a  rude  coffin,  an  officer  with 
a  drawn  sword  took  his  place  beside  it,  and  then,  set  in  motion 
by  the  stern  word  of  command,  a  long  line  of  soldiery  filed 
past,  each  man  gazing  down  upon  the  mangled,  bleeding  form, 
its  clothing  still  smouldering  as  the  line  moved  on. 

The  unfortunate  loyalist  next  met  his  fate.  Sadly  protest- 
ing his  innocence,  he  bade  farewell  to  earth  and  man,  and 
ascended  the  ladder.  At  this  moment  it  was  made  known  that 
the  man  upon  whom  the  duty  of  hangman  devolved,  disliking 
his  gruesome  task,  had  disappeared,  and  was  nowhere  to  be 
found.  Enraged  at  this  interruption  of  the  course  of  justice, 
Putnam  ordered  Jones  to  jump  from  the  ladder.  This  he 
declined  to  do,  protesting  with  earnestness  and  even  with  dig- 
nity against  the  execution  of  his  terrible  sentence ;  but  Putnam, 
refusing  to  hear  him  further,  ordered  the  ladder  to  be  turned 
over,  and  the  unhappy  loyalist  was  launched  into  eternity. 
Stern,  terrible,  awe-inspiring  was  the  spectacle  presented  on 
that  bleak  hillside :  one  lifeless  form  dangling  from  the  gibbet, 
another  lying,  shattered  and  bloodstained,  upon  the  cold  and 
barren  earth.  What  emotions  of  fear  and  pity  and  horror, 
excited  by  the  events  of  that  awful  day,  haunted  the  recollec- 
tions of  the  witnesses,  after  the  shades  of  night  fell  upon  the 
tragedy,  and  the  stars  shone  down  upon  the  new-made  graves ! 
Whether  these  men  merited  their  fate,  whether  the  exhibition 
of  mercy  might  not  have  added  luster  to  an  honored  name, 
may  long  be  questioned,  but  the  immediate  and  needed  lesson 
was  taught,  that  across  the  pathway  of  spy  and  traitor  lay  the 
shadow  of  doom.  Quiet  reigned  in  the  camps  for  the  remain- 
der of  the  season,  as  the  soldiers  settled  down  to  the  routine 


THE    HORSENECK    FIGHT.  35 

of  duty,  no  more  to  rebel  against  the  stern  decrees  of  justice 
and  military  discipline. 

Lest  an  imputation  of  inhumanity  should  rest  on  the  char- 
acter of  Putnam  because  of  his  active  participation  in  this 
affair,  let  it  be  remembered  that  military  necessity  is  always 
stern,  often  demanding  the  sacrifice  of  life  for  the  good  of  a 
cause.  These  men  had  been  condemned  to  death  by  a  military 
tribunal ;  honestly  believing  them  guilty,  Putnam  was  resolved 
that  their  sentence  should  be  carried  into  effect,  that  the  evils 
which  menaced  his  army  might  be  checked.  That  he  should 
personally  have  compelled  the  execution  of  that  sentence  was 
characteristic  of  the  energy  and  decision  of  the  man,  who  was 
ever  ready  to  go  forward  though  others  faltered. 

Ten  days  after  this  event  Putnam  was  himself  in  peril  of 
his  life.  He  had  gone  to  Horseneck  to  inspect  the  outpost 
there,  when  Gov.  Tryon,  with  six  regiments,  numbering  fif- 
teen hundred  men  (almost  as  heavy  a  column  as  he  led  at  Dan- 
bury),  advanced  from  New  York  with  the  intention  of  sur- 
prising the  post  and  destroying  the  salt  works  there.  His 
presence  was  detected  by  a  small  guard  at  New  Rochelle,  which 
skirmished  with  the  advance,  retiring  toward  its  main  body. 
On  the  approach  of  the  British,  Putnam  drew  up  his  force  (one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  with  two  iron  field-pieces)  on  high 
ground  near  the  Greenwich  church,  but  realizing  the  tre- 
mendous odds  against  him,  and  seeing  the  enemy  advancing 
for  a  charge,  he  ordered  his  troops  to  retire  through  a  swamp 
to  another  eminence  in  its  rear,  turned  his  own  horse  as  the 
British  dragoons  charged  toward  him,  and  dashed  down  a 
steep  declivity  at  full  speed.  No  trooper  of  the  British  dra- 
goons was  horseman  enough  to  follow  him,  and  he  avoided 
further  pursuit,  as  well  as  the  enemy's  bullets,  one  of  which 
pierced  his  hat.  Escaping  to  Stamford,  he  rallied  his  troops, 
received  reinforcements,  and  pursued  Tryon  on  his  return  to 
New  York,  capturing  fifty  of  the  enemy,  an  ammunition 
wagon,  etc.  It  was  Putnam's  last  battle  —  he  was  never  under 
fire  again.  The  camps  and  the  town  were  enlivened  by  the 
story  of  this  exploit,  and  the  minds  of  men  turned  from  the 
gloomy  and  depressing  recollections  of  the  preceding  months 
to  thoughts  of  active  service  and  a  renewal  of  the  struggle 
for  liberty. 


86  AMERICAN    UNION   LODGE. 

More  cheerfully,  too,  ran  the  course  of  affairs  in  the  town 
as  the  winter  passed  away.  An  event  which  added  greatly  to 
the  social  pleasures  of  the  period,  and  drew  public  attention 
from  unpleasant  retrospect,  was  the  organization  of  a  Masonic 
Lodge  among  the  officers  of  the  line,  and  some  interesting 
ceremonies  in  connection  therewith.  The  lodge  originated 
in  this  wise: 

During  the  siege  of  Boston  the  meetings .  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  were  suspended,  and  a  com- 
mission was  granted  by  John  Rowe  (the  successor  of  Gen. 
Joseph  Warren  as  Grand  Master)  to  Col.  Joel  Clark  of  the 
Connecticut  troops  to  establish  a  lodge  within  the  army,  which 
was  to  hold  its  meetings  wherever  convenient,  as  the  army 
moved  from  place  to  place.  This  lodge  was  to  be  designated 
"  The  American  Union  Lodge."  It  was  accordingly  organized, 
but  the  change  of  base  to  New  York,  and  the  stirring  events 
which  followed,  seem  to  have  prevented  further  meetings.  Its 
master,  Colonel  Clark,  died  after  the  Long  Island  campaign, 
and  the  lodge  appears  to  have  lapsed  until  the  encampment  at 
Redding  brought  the  Connecticut  officers  together,  with  leisure 
to  renew  their  fraternal  relations.  For  this  purpose,  and 
perhaps  with  a  view  to  distract  public  attention  from  the  pain- 
ful and  depressing  experiences  of  the  winter,  the  lodge  was 
convened  early  in  February,  in  conformity  to  the  following 
notice :  • 

STATE  OF  CONNECTICUT,  viz : 
READING,  FEBRUARY*  7th,  1779. 

On  the  application  of  a  number  of  gentlemen,  brethren  of  the  Ancient 
and  Honorable  Society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Mafons,  to  the  members 
of  American  Union  Lodge,  held  by  authority,  under  the  Right  Wor- 
fhipful  John  Rowe,  Efq.,  Grand  Mafter  of  all  Mafons  in  Nofth  America, 
where  no  Special  Grand  Mafter  is  appointed,  requefting  that  the  faid 
American  Union  Lodge  may  be  convened,  for  the  purpose  of  re-eftab- 
lishing  the  Ancient  Craft  in  the  same.  Agreeable  to  which  a  fummons 
was  iffued,  defiring  the  members  of  the  American  Union  Lodge  to  meet 
at  Widow  Sanford's,  near  Reading  Old  Meeting  Houfe,  on  Monday, 
the  15th  of  inft,  February,  at  4  o'clock,  Past  M.,  and  an  invitation  fent 
to  the  others,  the  brethren  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Society  of 
Free  and  Accepted  Mafons,  to  attend  at  5  o'clock,  Past  M. 

JONATHAN   HEART, 
Secretary  American  Union  Lodge. 

Feb.  ioth,  Anno  Mundi,  5779. 


AMERICAN    UNION    LODGE.  g/ 

Accordingly,  the  first  meeting  was  held  at  Mrs.  Sanford's 
on  February  I5th,  four  members  of  the  lodge  being  present, 
and  four  candidates  were  received  into  membership.  Gen. 
Samuel  Holden  Parsons  of  the  First  Connecticut  Brigade  was 
elected  master  to  succeed  the  late  Col.  Clark,  and  the  lodge 
proceeded  to  a  consideration  of  the  by-laws.  At  the  third 
meeting,  February  24th,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  amend 
these  by-laws,  which  reported  back  on  March  loth,  presenting 
their  revision  in  twenty-eight  articles,  several  of  which  have 
special  interest: 

"Art.  3.  Every  brother  proposing  a  candidate  .  .  .  shall  de- 
posit as  advance  four  dollars  toward  his  making.  .  .  . 

Art.  6.  Every  brother  made  in  this  Lodge  shall  pay  ten  dollars  for 
his  making.  .  .  . 

Art.  9.  Every  member  shall  pay  into  the  hands  of  the  Secretary 
one  shilling  .  .  .  for  every  night's  attendance,  to  be  paid  quarterly. 

Art.  10.  Every  brother  visiting  this  Lodge  shall  pay  one  shilling 
every  night  he  visits,  except  the  first.  .  .  . 

Art.  ii.  Any  visiting  brother  who  shall  desire  to  become  a  mem- 
ber of  this  Lodge  .  .  .  shall  pay  nine  shillings. 

Art.  26.  That  every  brother  (being  a  member  of  this  Lodge,  who 
shall  be  passed  a  Fellow  Craft,  shall  pay  twelve  shillings,  and  fifteen 
for  being  raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of  a  Master  Mason;  and  that 
any  brother  (not  a  member),  shall,  for  being  passed,  pay  twenty- four 
shillings,  and  thirty-six  for  being  raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of  a 
Master  Mason." 

Art.  28.  .  .  .  And  whereas,  from  the  present  depreciation  of  our 
money,  it  will  be  impossible  to  maintain  the  dignity  of  the  Lodge  by  the 
premiums  arising  from  the  By-Laws,  it  is  ordered  by  a  unanimous  vote 
of  this  Lodge  that  the  fees  for  a  new-made  brother  be  thirty  dollars ; 
passing  a  brother  (being  a  member),  six  dollars,  and  raising,  seven 
dollars  and  one-half;  and  all  other  perquisites,  so  far  as  relates  to 
gentlemen  of  the  army,  be  raised  three  fold  to  what  is  prescribed  in  the 
By-Laws.  .  .  . 

Further  propositions,  initiations,  and  conferring  of  degrees 
closed  the  work  of  the  evening. 

March  I7th  the  lodge,  now  grown  to  sixteen  members,  held 
its  fifth  meeting,  and,  after  further  increasing  its  membership, 
appointed  a  committee  "  to  prepare  a  feast  on  Wednesday, 
the  7th  of  April  next." 

Another  meeting  was  held  at  4  p.  M.  March  22d,  when 

"  Some  particular  business  requiring  it,  voted,  that  an  Entered  Ap- 
prentice Lodge  be  held  on  Thursday,  the  25th  of  inst.  March,  at  2  o'clock 


88  AMERICAN    UNION    LODGE. 

p.  M.  :  that  Bro.  Belding  Sill  and  Little  prepare  a  dinner,  and  invite  the 
brethren  of  the  Ancient  Society,  who  are  not  members  of  this  Lodge, 
to  dine  with  us :  that  Bro.  Redfield  wait  on  the  Hon.  Bro.  Putnam  with 
the  desire  of  the  Lodge  to  attend:  that  Mrs.  Sanford,  her  daughter  and 
niece;  Mrs.  Marshall  and  Heart  be  also  invited  to  dine  with  us  on 
Thursday. 

Lodge  closed  without  day." 

So,  on  the  appointed  day,  the  lodge  convened,  and,  after 
admitting  several  candidates  as  entered  apprentices,  it  "  closed 
for  a  space,"  and  the  special  program  of  the  day  was  carried 
out: 

"Procession  began  at  half-past  four  o'clock  in  the  following  order: 

1.  Bro.  Whitney  to  clear  the  way. 

2.  The  Wardens,  with  their  wands. 

3.  The  youngest  brother,  with  the  bag. 

4.  Brethren  by  Juniority. 

5.  The  Worshipful  Master,  with  the  Treasurer  on  his  right  hand, 
supporting  the  sword  of  justice,  and  the  Secretary  on  his  left  hand,  sup- 
porting the  bible,  square  and  compasses. 

6.  Music,  playing  the  "  Entered  Apprentice  March." 

Proceeded  to  Esq.  Hawley's,  where  Br.  Little  delivered  a  few  senti- 
ments on  Friendship  —  the  Rev.  Dr.  Evans  and  a  number  of  gentlemen 
and  ladies  being  present.  After  dinner  the  following  songs  and  toasts 
were  given,  interspersed  with  music,  for  the  entertainment  of  the  com- 
pany. 

Songs.  Toasts.  Music. 

Hail  America.  General  Washington.  Grand  March. 

TVT  (The  memory  of  Warren,)  , 

Montgomery.  •<,,  „   ,,,  >•  Dead  March. 

|  Montgomery  &  Wooster.  j 

French  Ladies  Lament.  Relief    of    the    Widows     Country  Jig. 

and  Orphans. 

Mason's  Daughter.  Ladies  of  America.  Mason's  Daughter. 

On,  on,  my  dear  Union,  Harmony  & 

Brethren.  Peace. 

Huntsmen.  Social  Enjoyment. 

My  Dog  and  Gun.  Contentment. 

The  festivities  of  the  occasion  were  concluded  with  a  speech  by  Br. 
Waldo. 

At  half  past  7  o'clock  the  procession  began  in  returning  to  the  Lodge 
room,  in  reverse  order  from  the  afternoon  procession.  Music  playing 
"  The  Mason's  Daughter." 

The  Lodge  being  opened, <the  W.  Master  returned  his  thanks  to  the 
officers  and  brethren  for  their  faithful  attendance  in  labor,  and  in  trans- 
acting the  business  of  the  day  with  the  greatest  decorum  and  harmony. 
Voted.    That  the  Lodge  have  a  grateful  sense  of  the  honor  paid 


AMERICAN    UNION    LODGE.  89 

them  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Evans,  and  other  gentlemen  and  ladies  in  attend- 
ing the  exercises  of  the  day. 

Voted.  That  the  thanks  of  the  Lodge  be  presented  to  Bro.  Little 
and  Waldo  for  the  honor  conferred  on  the  Lodge  by  their  addresses. 

Lodge  closed  in  good  time,  \vithout  date." 

Note  the  early  hours  at  which  our  Revolutionary  fathers 
opened  and  closed  their  social  and  public  functions.  No  late 
banquets  or  small-hour  festivities  for  them.  At  the  next 
meeting  of  the  lodge,  held  at  4  p.  M.,  March  3ist,  it  was 

"Voted.  That  Bro.  Little,  Belding  and  Sill,  as  heretofore  voted,  pro- 
ceed in  preparing  a  feast  on  Wednesday,  the  7th  of  April :  that  Bro. 
Redfield  wait  on  Bro.  Putnam  and  his  two  Aids-de-Camp  with  the  de- 
sire of  this  Body  that  they  dine  with  us :  that  Bro.  Heart  wait  on  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Evans  with  the  desire  of  the  Lodge  that  he  dine  with  us,  and 
also  that  he  favor  the  assembly  with  a  discourse  on  such  subject  as  he 
shall  think  proper.  Also  voted,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bartlett,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Sanford,  her  daughter  and  niece,  Esq.  Hawley,  his  wife  and 
daughter,  the  widow  Fairchild,  widow  Sanford,  Mrs.  Marshall,  Mrs. 
Heart,  Miss  Curtis  and  Col.  Meigs  be  invited  to  dine  with  us :  that 
Bro.  Belding  present  them  with  notice  in  the  name  of  the  Lodge. 
Voted,  that  dinner  be  served  at  2  o'clock." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  vote,  one  of  Redding's  most 
remarkable  social  occasions  was  ushered  in  on  the  following 
Wednesday.  The  proceedings  of  the  whole  day  are  given,  and 
the  reader  is  invited  to  share  in  the  festivities  and  witness  the 
workings  of  the  lodge : 

"April  7th,  1779.     10  o'clock  A.  M. 

Master's  Lodge,  per  adjournment.  Present  —  The  Hon.  Bro.  Par- 
sons, W.  M. :  Heart,  S.  W. :  Marshall,  J.  W. :  Belding,  Treas. :  Grosve- 
nor,  Sec'ry :  Whitney  and  Peck,  Tylers.  Me/nbers  —  Bros.  Hoit,  Red- 
field,  Lawrence,  Champion,  Mix,  Watrous,  Waldo,  Little,  Sill,  Judson, 
Clark.  Visitors  —  Bros.  Dearborn,  Hosmer,  Monson,  Fogg. 

Entered  Apprentice  Lodge  opened,  when  Lieut.  Samuel  Richards, 
Paymaster  of  the  Third  Connecticut  Battalion,  having  been  proposed, 
balloted  for  and  accepted  to  be  made  a  Mason,  was  made  an  Entered 
Apprentice. 

It  having  been  voted  to  dine  at  three  o'clock,  at  half-past  one  the 
procession  began,  as  follows. 

1.  Br.  Whitney,  Outside  Tyler. 

2.  The  Wardens,  with  White  Rods. 

3.  The  Youngest  Brother,  with  the  Bag. 

4.  The  Brethren,  by  Juniority. 


90  AMERICAN    UNION    LODGE. 

5.  The  W.  Master,  with  his  Rod :  the  Treasurer  on  his  right  hand, 
supporting  the  Sword  of  Justice :  the  Secretary  on  his  left,  supporting 
the  Bible,  Square  and  Compasses. 

6.  Br.  Peck,  the  Inside  Tyler. 

Music  advanced,  playing  the  "  Entered  Apprentice  March." 

The  W.  Master  and  Brethren  having  seated  themselves,  together 
with  a  number  of  respectable  inhabitants,  gentlemen  and  ladies,  the 
Rev.  Doct.  Evans  delivered  a  discourse  suitable  to  the  occasion. 

After  dinner,  the  W.  Master  called  on  Bro.  Monson  and  others  for 
songs  and  sentiments,  when  the  company  were  favored  with  the  follow- 
ing, each  song  and  toast  being  enlivened  with  appropriate  music : 
Song  by   Br.   Munson  —  Watery   Gods.     Toast  —  Health   of   Congress. 

Music  —  Grenadiers  March. 
Song  by  Br.   Munson  —  Elegy  on  General    Wolfe.      Toast  —  Warren, 

Montgomery  and  Wooster.     Music  —  Dead  March. 
Mason's  Song  by  Br.  Redfield.     Toast  —  The  Good  and  Just.     Music  — 

Prince  Eugene. 
Song   by    Br.  '  Munson  —  Colin    and    Phebe.      Toast  —  The    Ladies    of 

America.     Music  —  Country  Jig. 
Song  on  Masonry,  by  Br.  Marshall.    Toast  —  Arts  and  Sciences.    Music 

—  Splendor  of  the  morning. 

Song  by  Brs.  Munson  and  Marshall  —  The  Tempest.     With  Jack  the 
Seaman,  to  conclude. 

At  six  o'clock  the  procession  returned  to  the  Lodge  room,  and  the 
Lodge  being  open,  it  was 

Voted,  that  the  thanks  of  the  Lodge  be  presented  in  writing  to  the 
Rev.  Doct.  Evans,  for  his  polite  address  and  sentiments  delivered  this 
day,  and  that  Bro.  Waldo  wait  on  him  with  the  same :  also,  that  Bro. 
Waldo  present  our  thanks  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bartlet,  and  to  the  other 
gentlemen  and  ladies  who  favored  the  Lodge  with  their  company  at 
dinner. 

Voted.  That  Bro.  Whitney  and  Peck  act  as  inside  and  outside 
Tylers,  and  share  equally  the  profits  of  tyling  this  Lodge. 

Ensign  Wm  Higgins,  Qr.  Master  to  the  Third  Connecticut  Battalion, 
and  Doct.  John  Simpson,  Surgeon  to  the  Fifth  Battalion,  were  proposed 
by  Brs.  Watrous  and  Redfield  to  be  made  Masons." 

Here  ends  the  record  of  the  day  and  of  a  social  occasion 
which  enlivened  the  spirits  of  our  townspeople.  At  the  next 
meeting  of  the  lodge  a  bill  for  the  two  feasts  was  rendered, 
amounting  in  all  to  £152  i6s.  2d.,  probably  reckoned  in  a  de- 
preciated currency. 

Four  days  after  the  banquet,  orders  were  received  to  pro- 
pare  for  the  field,  and  from  this  time  attention  was  concen- 
trated on  the  expected  movement  of  the  troops.  It  was  several 
weeks  later,  however,  that  they  took  their  departure.  Mean- 


DEPARTURE    OF    TROOPS.  91 

while,  the  lodge  held  five  sessions,  the  last  three  on  May  3d, 
5th,  and  7th,  resulting  in  very  considerable  additions  to  the 
fraternity. 

How  the  inhabitants  had  passed  the  winter  may  be  con- 
sidered, before  taking  final  leave  of  our  soldier  friends.  The 
townspeople  had  received  the  troops,  on  their  arrival  in  camp, 
with  enthusiastic  welcome,  anticipating  protection  from  hostile 
incursions,  immunity  from  annoyance  by  restless  tories,  and 
pleasure  from  the*exhibition  of  military  display ;  but  the  gloom 
and  discontent  which  so  rapidly  overspread  the  camps,  the 
excitement  occasioned  by  the  mutiny,  and  the  horrors  of  the 
military  executions,  dispelled  to  a  great  extent  their  cherished 
hopes  and  illusions.  Added  to  this  was  the  fact  that  the  sol- 
diers, suffering  from  want  of  food,  and  driven  to  the  necessity 
of  foraging  for  a  supply,  went  out  on  marauding  expeditions, 
and  indiscriminately  appropriated  the  property  of  both  Whig 
and  Tory,  driving  off  and  butchering  live  stock,  and  com- 
mitting other  depredations  under  conditions  which  made  it 
almost  impossible  to  detect  the  perpetrators  or  secure  their 
conviction  when  known.  To  such  straits  were  the  farmers  of 
the  region  driven,  to  insure  the  safety  "of  their  possessions, 
that  many  were  obliged  to  resort  to  the  expedient  of  housing 
their  live  stock  in  the  cellars  of  their  own  dwellings.  Under 
these  circumstances  we  may  easily  imagine  and  appreciate  the 
earnestness  with  which  our  people  prayed  to  be  delivered  from 
their  friends,  and,  as  final  marching  orders  arrived  in  the 
latter  part  of  May,  we  can  understand  the  intense  satisfaction 
with  which  the  people  sped  their  parting  guests,  and  almost 
hear  the  sigh  of  relief  that  went  up  as  the  last  glittering  bayo- 
net disappeared  behind  the  western  hills.  Yet,  though  human 
friendship  may  have  cooled,  nature  gave  kindly  recognition 
of  this  soldiers'  farewell.  Leafless  trees  and  gray  skies  had 
witnessed  and  shrill  winds  heralded  their  advent,  but  they 
marched  out  of  camp  and  off  for  the  Hudson  through  the 
beauty  and  freshness  of  May. 

The  troops  did  not  all  leave  camp  at  the  same  time.  Ha- 
zen's  regiment,  on  the  2ist  of  March,  received  orders  to  go 
to  Springfield;  the  New  Hampshire  brigade,  which  arrived  in 
Reckling  December  2d,  left  on  April  loth ;  the  Connecticut 
division  went  out  between  the  24th  and  3Oth  of  May,  probably 
accompanied  by  the  dragoons. 


VII.       . 

THE  ALARMS  OF  1779  — TOWN  MEETINGS  —  YORKTOWN  — 
END  OF  THE  WAR. 

AFTER  the  departure  of  the  troops  public  attention  turned 
to  other  affairs.  One  question  which  engaged  the  thoughts 
of  our  people  related  to  the  depreciation  of  the  currency.  This 
depreciation  was  one  of  the  chief  hindrances  to  a  successful 
prosecution  of  the  war;  it  had  been  one  of  the  causes  of  the 
mutiny;  the  officers  of  the  army  had  been  inconvenienced  by 
it  in  camp  and  in  lodge ;  the  people  were  equally  distressed  by 
it.  An  effort  was  made  to  devise  means  for  a  restoration  of 
its  value,  and  accordingly 

"At  a  Town  Meeting  held  in  Redding  On  the  28  Day  of  June  Anno 
D.  1779  Mr.  Abraham  Fairchild  Moderator  Voted  that  this  Meeting 
will  exert  themselves  in  every  proper  Method  to  restore  Our  Depre- 
ciated paper  Currency  to  its  Original  value  And  that  it  is  the  Oppinion 
of  this  Meeting  that  a  County  Convention  be  Called  as  soon  as  may  be 
to  Consider  and  Resolve  what  Methods  had  best  be  taken  to  effect  a 
Restoration  of  said  Currency  And  that  Mefsrs  Lem11  Sanford  Jur 
Stephen  Betts  and  Wm  Heron  be  a  Comtec  to  represent  this  Town  at 
said  Convention  when  Called. 

A  true  Copy  of  Record 

Test    JOHN    COUCH    Town    Clerk." 

The  removal  of  Putnam's  troops  left  the  country  once 
more  exposed  to  the  incursions  of  the  enemy,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  the  British  availed  themselves  of  an  opportunity 
to  harass  the  colony.  American  privateers,  fitted  out  at  New 
Haven,  had  done  considerable  damage  to  the  British  naval 
armament,  and  in  July  an  expedition  was  sent,  under  the  chief 
command  of  Gen.  Tryon,  to  reduce  the  place.  On  the  5th  a 
fleet  of  forty-eight  vessels,  under  command  of  Sir  George 
Collier,  anchored  off  West  Haven.  They  had  on  board  three 
thousand  troops,  of  which  about  fifteen  hundred,  under  Gen. 
Garth,  landed  on  West  Haven  point  and  advanced  upon  the 
town.  The  alarm  was  given,  and,  as  at  Danbury,  the  people 
were  thrown  into  great  confusion  and  distress,  many  families 
retiring  from  the  town  in  haste.  Preparations  for  defense 
were  not  neglected,  however,  and  Garth's  division  met  with  a 


THE  NEW  HAVEN  ALARM.  93 

very  determined  and  effective  resistance,  which  greatly  im- 
peded his  progress.  Tryon,  landing  with  the  remainder  of  his 
force  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  harbor,  found  himself  as 
stoutly  opposed.  Both  detachments  were  bravely  resisted 
throughout  the  day,  but  finally  gained  the  town.  Expresses 
were  sent  out,  and  for  miles  around  the  militia  rallied  and 
commenced  its  march  toward  New  Haven.  By  the  next  morn- 
ing it  became  evident  to  the  enemy  that  they  would  soon  be 
attacked  by  overwhelming  odds,  and  Garth  withdrew  from 
the  west  side  of  the  town,  joined  Tryon,  and  the  combined- 
forces  retired  to  the  shipping.  The  American  troops  came 
pouring  into  the  town,  but  their  quarry  had  flown,  and  the 
militia  gained  no  glory  that  day.  In  the  fighting  of  the  pre- 
vious day  the  British  lost  seventy-five  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing;  the  American  loss  was  forty-six,  of  whom  one-half 
were  killed.  Capt.  Gray's  company  marched  in  this  alarm,  but 
is  not  known  to  have  engaged  the  enemy. 

On  the  /th  Tryon's  fleet  weighed  anchor  and  sailed  to 
Fairfield,  where  the  troops  disembarked  on  the  morning  of  the 
8th.  The  militia  of  the  vicinity,  though  ill-prepared  to  oppose 
Tryon's  force,  kept  up  a  constant  skirmish  fire  throughout 
the  day,  and  the  British,  to  punish  the  troops  which  harassed 
them  and  to  cover  their  own  retreat,  set  fire  to  the  town.  The 
courthouse,  with  five  hundred  barrels  of  rice,  two  churches, 
two  hundred  dwelling  houses,  fifty-five  barns,  fifteen  stores, 
and  fifteen  shops  were  consumed  by  the  flames.  A  tremendous 
thunderstorm,  rising  just  as  night  came  on,  added  to  the  hor- 
rors of  the  conflagration. 

On  the  morning  of  the  Qth  the  royal  troops  reembarked, 
proceeded  to  Green's  Farms,  and,  landing^  there,  burned  the 
church,  fifteen  houses,  eleven  barns,  and  several  stores,  appar- 
ently meeting  with  little  opposition,  and  reembarking  in  safety. 

Crossing  to  Huntington  Bay,  Tryon  rested  till  the  nth, 
when  he  recrossed  the  Sound,  and,  landing  his  division  at  the 
Cow  Pasture,  on  the  east  side  of  Norwalk  Harbor,  between  the 
hours  of  8  and  9  P.  M.,  waited  for  Garth's  division  (which  was 
put  ashore  at  Old  Well,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  harbor)  to 
advance  to  the  upper  end  of  the  town  and  form  a  junction  with 
his  own  command.  Reinforced  by  a  body  of  loyalists  about 
3  A.  M.,  Tryon  moved  onward  into  the  town,  from  which  the 


94 


THE  NORWALK  ALARM. 


inhabitants  had  fled  during  the  night.  Near  Grumman's  Hill, 
at  the  south  end  of  the  village,  he  attacked  an  American  out- 
post, consisting  of  fifty  Continentals  and  about  twice  as  many 
militia,  under  Capt.  Stephen  Betts.  These  troops  were  forced 
to  retire  before  superior  numbers,  with  a  loss  of  four  men 
killed.  It  was  now  4  A.  M.,  and  Tryon,  halting  his  column, 
made  his  temporary  headquarters  on  Grumman's  Hill,  from 
which  he  witnessed  the  movements  of  the  troops  and  the  de- 
struction of  the  town. 

Garth,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  harbor,  made  slower 
progress,  being  more  successfully  resisted.  The  American 
militia  (among  whom  were  Capt.  John  Gray's  men)  threw 
themselves  into  the  houses  and  kept  up  a  constant  and  harass- 
ing fire  upon  the  enemy's  advance  guards,  maintaining  their 
resistance  for  five  hours.  Garth  crossed  the  bridge  at  9  A.  M. 
and  forced  his  way  to  the  northern  end  of  the  village,  driving 
the  Americans  from  the  heights  at  that  point,  and  capturing  a 
cannon.  Meanwhile,  the  town  was  set  on  fire :  both  churches 
and  all  the  houses,  except  six,  were  burned.  [Eighty  houses, 
eighty-seven  barns,  seventeen  shops,  four  mills,  five  vessels, 
and  -the  churches,  value  $116,000,  is  the  loss  estimated.]  The 
British  commenced  their  retreat  about  noon,  evidently  desirous 
of  getting  out  of  the  way,  for  their  losses  had  been  considerable 
—  20  killed,  96  wounded,  32  missing,  a  total  of  148,  nearly 
double  the  casualties  at  New  Haven,  and  barely  twenty-five  less 
than  the  loss  in  the  Danbury  Raid.  The  Americans  are  said 
to  have  suffered  severely;  to  what  extent  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. In  this  affair  the  Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers  were  again 
introduced  to  their  old  antagonists  of  two  years  before.  Ac- 
companied by  a  considerable  body  of  loyalist  refugees,  Tryon 
reembarked  his  troops  and  sailed  away,  to  revisit  the  shores 
of  Connecticut  no  more. 

Capt.  Gray's  company  had  turned  out  in  all  these  alarms ; 
had  marched  through  the  heat  and  dust  to  the  defense  of  New 
Haven;  had  immediately  returned  for  the  relief  of  Fairfield, 
and  had  been  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Norwalk ;  being 
under  arms  and  in  active  service  for  nearly  a  week. 

After  quiet  had  been  in  some  degree  restored  to  the  com- 
munity, attention  was  turned  to  the  condition  of  soldiers  in  the 
field,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  provide  suitable  clothing  for 
them: 


TOWN  VOTES. 


95 


'July  3°>  J779- —  Micajah  Starr  Thad  Benedict  and  Stephen  Betts 
Chosen  a  Comtee  to  provide  Clothing  for  the  Continental  Soldiers  now 
in  the  Army.  Voted  a  Rate  of  two  Shillings  on  the  pound  to  pay  for 
said  Clothing  the  above  Comtee  to  Collect  said  Rate  and  to  be  Collected 
by  the  first  day  of  August  next. 

Adjd  to  Aug.  9,  and  Chose  Eleazr  Smith  Rufsel  Bartlett  Simon 
Couch  and  Isaac  Hillard  a  Comtee  to  Provide  Winter  Clothing  for  said 
Soldiers." 

In  August  another  alarm  drew  the  entire  Fourth  Militia 
under  arms,  and  the  regiment  marched  to  Gregory's  Parish, 
Putnam  County,  New  York,  where  it  remained  on  duty  three 
weeks.  The  cause  of  this  movement  is  unknown. 

Later  in  the  season  a  British  fleet  passed  up  the  Sound, 
and,  when  opposite  Black  Rock,  fired  several  shots  at  the  coast- 
guard, but  no  landing  was  attempted,  and  this  appears  to 
have  been  the  last  warlike  demonstration  on  this  part  of  the 
Connecticut  coast. 

Later  in  the  year  the  people  again  addressed  themselves  to 
the  solution  of  monetary  difficulties  and  to  the  work  of  pro- 
viding for  soldiers  and  their  families: 

"Sept.  2,  1779.  —  Adjd  to  next  Tuesday.  Voted  that  this  meeting 
do  desire  and  impower  the  Comtee  of  Inspection  in  this  Town  to  Cor- 
respond with  the  Several  Towns  in  this  County  respecting  any  matters 
that  may  have  a  tendency  to  appreciate  the  money." 

"Dec.  21,  1779.  —  Adjd  meeting.  David  Starr  Jur,  Ezekiel  Burr, 
Neheh  Hull,  Eleazer  Smith,  Step"  Jackson,  &  Dan11  Lyon  a  Comtee  to 
take  care  of  Soldiers  Families  Voted  that  the  Comtee  for  the  winter 
clothing  shall  receive  the  money  that  the  Comtee  for  the  summer 
clothing  have  received  of  the  State  and  account  to  the  Selectmen  for 
the  same." 

The  state  also  gave  some  aid  towai  d  putting  the  town  in 
a  condition  for  defense.  The  legislature,  in  session  during 
November  of  this  year: 

"Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  Redding  receive  150  Ib.  musquet- 
powder  belonging  to  this  State  in  the  care  of  Ebenr  Blackman  of  Rip- 
ton,  they  to  be  accountable." 

[Rec.  St.  Ct.  1—439.] 

Also,  at  the  session  of  January,  1780,  the  legislature  de- 
cided that 

"  Upon  the  memorial  of  the  civil  authority,  selectmen  and  committee 
of  inspection  of  the  town  of  Reading,  shewing  to  the  Assembly  that  in 


96  TOWN  VOTES. 

the  year  1776,  in  obedience  to  the  requisition  of  the  committee  of  the 
General  Assembly  specially  appointed  to  examine  persons  in  said  Read- 
ing &c.,  inimical  to  the  State,  &c.,  large  accounts  of  cost  and  expendi- 
ture arose  in  apprehending  and  guarding  such  inimical  persons,  &c.,  to 
the  amount  of  £159  9  5.,  L.  money,  for  allowance  and  payment  thereof, 
as  per  memorial  on  file :  Resolved  by  this  Assembly  that  the  said  sum 
of  £159  9  5,  L.  money,  be  allowed  and  paid  to  the  memorialists  in  satis- 
faction of  the  said  costs  and  charges ;  and  the  Treasurer  is  hereby 
ordered  to  pay  the  same  accordingly." 

[Rec.  St.  Ct,  2  —  497.] 

The  remaining  years  of  the  war  were  notable,  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  town,  for  the  large  number 'of  town  meetings  that 
were  held,  and  votes  that  were  passed,  relating  to  military 
affairs.  The  records  of  these  form  a  sufficient  local  history  of 
the  period,  and  are  presented  without  comment : 

"Jan.  28,  1780.  —  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford  is  chosen  one  of  the  Comtee 
to  take  care  of  the  Soldiers  families. 

Voted  that  the  town  will  pay  to  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford  all  that  he 
shall  suffer  more  than  any  of  the  Comtee  (appointed  last  year  to  provide 
for  Soldiers  families  belonging  to  this  town)  has  or  shall  do  on  account 
of  his  providing  for  the  family  of  Bartholomew  Baker  the  sum  allowed 
to  a  private  soldier  as  the  sd  Baker  is  a  Soldier  counted  for  this  town 
and  his  family  has  not  been  provided  for  as  the  famalies  of  the  other 
Soldiers  has. 

Att  sd  meeting  Nath11  Barlow  is  chosen  a  Comtee  in  the  room  of 
Nehh  Hull  to  provide  for  Nathan  Coley's  family  a  Soldier  belonging  to 
this  town. 

Att  sd  meeting  Oliver  Sanford  is  chosen  a  Comtee  in  the  room  of 
Dan11  Lyon  to  provide  for  Epm  Wheeler  Jur  family  a  Soldier  belonging 
to  this  town." 

"Feb.  3,  1780  —  Adjd  meeting.  Deacon  Joseph  Banks  appointed  to 
provide  for  Epm  Wheeler  Jur  family  in  the  roof  [room?]  of  Oliver 
Sanford." 

"March  13,  1780  —  Micajah  Starr,  Aaron  Hull,  Nathn  Burr,  David 
Sanford,  Gersh  Coley,  Phillip  Burrit,  John  Gray,  Tim?  Hull,  Step" 
Gould,  John  Byinton,  Epm  Robbins,  Simon  Couch,  Andw  Hill,  Wm 
Heron,  Francis  Andrefs,  Elijah  Burr  &  Ezekiel  Fairchild  were  chosen 
Inspectors  of  Provisions." 

"  June  23,  1780.  —  Voted  by  this  meeting  that  they  will  appoint  a 
Comtee  of  nine  to  procure  and  hire  nine  Soldiers  to  inlist  into  the  Con- 
necticut line  in  the  Continental  army  for  the  town  of  Redding.  Comtee 
appntd  are  Stepn  Betts  Ez1  Sanford,  David  Jackson,  Nath11  Barlow, 
Asahel  Fitch,  Hezk  Read,  Elijah  Burr,  Epm  Robbins  &  Hezk  Sanford. 

Voted  that  this  meeting  do  desire  the  afores'd  Comtee  to  use  their 
utmost  diligence  to  hire  nine  able-bodied  effective  men  to  inlist,  as 


FIGHT  AT  HANGING  ROCK.  97  , 

aforesd  —  during  the  war,  or  three  years  or  six  months,  and  that  they 
engage  them  such  sum  or  sums  of  money  in  any  specie  or  such  quantity 
of  provisions  of  any  kind  as  they  shall  judge  reasonable  and  just  and 
that  the  town  do  hereby  obligate  and  bind  themselves  to  save  the  sd 
Comtee  or  either  of  them  harmless  on  account  of  the  engagement  or  en- 
gagements they  or  either  of  them  shall  make  for  the  purpose  aforesd." 

"June  26,  1780.  Mon.  —  Adjd  meeting.  —  Voted  that  this  meeting 
do  instruct  their  Comtee  to  give  to  each  Soldier  they  inlist  for  six 
months  ten  bushels  of  wheat  pr  month,  or  the  value  thereof  in  hard 
money  when  paid,  besides  they  shall  receive  the  bounty  the  State  offers, 
but  the  town  shall  receive  their  wages. 

Voted  this  meeting  will  give  the  same  encouragement  to  those  who 
shall  be  draughted  for  the  purpose  aforesd  that  they  have  already 
offered  to  those  who  do  enlist,  provided  those  draughted  do  inlist  soon 
after  they  are  draughted." 

The  tide  of  war  had  drifted  away  to  the  southward  this 
year,  and  from  that  quarter  came  the  familiar  reports  of  defeat 
and  disaster,  to  which  our  people  had  grown  so  much  accus- 
tomed. Nevertheless,  news  of  occasional  successes  cheered 
them,  and  intelligence  of  this  sort,  which  may  have  reached 
them  in  July,  must  have  caused  considerable  sensation  in 
Redding.  Col.  Thomas  Sumter,  the  famous  partisan  leader, 
in  one  of  his  swift  descents  upon  the  British  garrisons  in  South 
Carolina,  fell  suddenly  upon  the  post  at  Hanging  Rock,  occu- 
pied by  a  body  of  troops  previously  introduced  to  us  under 
the  high-sounding  title  of  "  the  Royal  and  Honorable  Brigade 
of  the  Prince  of  Wales'  Loyal  American  Volunteers."  "  The 
gamecock  of  the  Catawba  "  fully  sustained  his  reputation  in 
this  affair  —  when  the  fight  was  over,  the  Prince  of  Wales' 
American  regiment  was  practically  annihilated,  a  forlorn  squad 
of  nine  being  all  that  remained  of  a  battalion  which  had  gone 
into  action  two  hundred  and  seventy-eight  strong.  Although 
this  news  may  have  been  received  with  jubilation  by  the 
patriots  of  Redding,  it  doubtless  caused  mourning  in  many 
loyalist  families,  who  grieved  for  friends  who  would  return 
no  more. 

Another  startling  sensation  came  to  our  people  in  Septem- 
ber, when  news  of  the  treachery  of  Arnold  was  received,  and 
men  who  had  fought  beside  him  at  Ridgefield  execrated  the 
name  of  him  who  had  so  bravely  led  them  there  —  no  longer 
Arnold  the  hero,  but  forevermore  Arnold  the  traitor.  But  our 
people  lost  no  faith  in  their  cause,  evincing,  as  our  records 


98  TOWN   VOTES. 

attest,  a  steadfast  determination  to  prosecute  the  war  till  in- 
dependence should  be  achieved. 

"Nov.  20,  1780.  —  Voted  that  the  town  will  raise  a  tax  on  provisions 
to  supply  their  quota  of  provisions  for  the  Connecticut  line  in  the  Con- 
tinental army  and  that  a  rate  bill  be  made  apportioning  to  each  indi- 
vidual his  proportion  of  each  kind  of  provisions  to  be  raised  (viz.) 
flour,  beef  and  pork  according  to  his  list  for  the  year  1779  and  that 
Mefrs  David  Jackson,  John  Couch  &  Asahel  Fitch  be  a  Comtee  to  make 
sd  rate  bill. 

At  sd  meeting  Capts  Wm  Hawley,  John  Gray,  Gershom  Morehouse, 
&  Ezekiel  Sanford  were  appointed  to  be  a  Comtee  to  ascertain  the  num- 
ber of  men  this  town  has  now  in  the  Continental  army." 

"  Nov.  28,  1780.  —  Geo.  Perry  was  apptd  to  receive  the  flour  collected 
by  the  town  for  the  use  of  the  army  &c  and  sworn  to  a  faithful  dis- 
charge of  his  trust.  At  sd  meeting  .Russell  Bartlett  apptd  to  receive  the 
beef  and  pork  as  aforesd  and  sworn  as  aforesd  Voted  that  one  of  the 
Comtee  appointed  to  ascertain  the  number  of  Soldiers  this  town  now 
has  in  the  Continental  army  do  repair  to  Camp  for  that  purpose  and 
that  he  shall  receive  a  reasonable  reward  from  the  town  therefor. 

At  sd  meeting  Capt.  John  Gray,  Stepn  Betts  Esq  Thad  Benedict 
David  Jackson  &  Lem11  Sanford  Esq.  were  appointed  a  Comtee  to  class 
the  Inhabitants  according  to  a  Statute  law  in  that  case  provided,  and 
that  they  make  twelve  classes  unless  they  think  fit  to  alter  that  number 
by  receiving  farther  Information  about  the  number  of  Soldiers  this 
[town]  must  raise." 

"  Mon.  Dec.  25,  1780.  —  Isaac  Gorham,  and  Simon  Couch  appointed 
a  Comteo  to  provide  for  Soldiers  Families." 

"Wed.  Dec.  27,  1780.  —  Benju  Hambleton  appointed  one  of  the 
Comtee  to  take  care  of  Soldiers  Families  —  Voted  that  John  Gray, 
Willm  Heron,  and  Will™  Hawley  be  a  Comtee  to  examine  and  inquire 
how  much  time  the  Soldiers  that  were  raised  for  the  laft  six  Months 
for  ye  Continental  Army,  served,  and  report  make  to  ye  next  T 
Meeting." 

"Jan.  8,  1781.  —  Voted  that  David  King,  Henry  Lyon,  Ezekiel  Hill, 
James  Barlow,  and  Willm  Manrow,  be  allowed  (for  the  men  that  they 
procured  to  inlift  into  the  Connecticut  Line  of  the  Continental  Army, 
the  six  months  preceding  the  firft  of  Inft  January)  the  encouragement 
Voted  at  a  Town  Meeting  in  June  laft  for  thofe  who  should  inlift  into 
sd  service  —  Voted  that  it  is  the  oppinion  of  this  Meeting  that  Ebenr 
Sturges  did  not  comply  with  the  Vote  of  the  Town  Respecting  The  Six 
Months  Men." 

"Jan.  29,  1781.  —  Voted  that  Sam11  Hawley  be -a  Comtee  to  provide 
for  the  Family  of  Rtifsel  Chapel  a  Soldier  in  the  Connecticut  Line  of 
the  Continental  Army  for  ye  present  year. 

Voted  that  Nehemiah  Hull  be  a  Comtee  to  provide  for  ye  Family  of 
Nathan  Coley  a  Soldier  in  the  Connecticut  Line  of  ye  Continental  Army 
for  ye  Present  Year,  in  the  Room  of  Benjn  Hambleton." 


TOWN   VOTES. 


99 


"  Mon.  Feb.  5,  1781. — ,  Adj'd  meeting.  —  Voted  that  the  meeting  will 
not  abate  ye  Afsefsments  as  Afsefs'd  by  the  Civil  Authority  and  Select 
Men  (for  the  purpose  of  hiring  men  to  serve  in  the  Connecticut  Line 
of  the  Continental  Army  during  the  War)  on  Enos  Lee,  James  Mor- 
gan, Hezekiah  Platt,  Dan11  Lyon,  Abigail  Lyon,  widow  of  Peter  Lyon 
Decd  Sarah  Phinney  David  Knap,  Jas  Gray,  Abigail  Morehoufe  Widw 
of  Zacheus  Morehoufe  Dec3,  Ezekiel  Hill,  Andw  Fuirchild,  Sarah 
Widow  of  Abel  Burr  Decd,  Who  have  each  of  them  a  Son  or  Sons,  or 
a  Son  or  Sons  in  Law  gone  over  to  the  Enemy  of  the  United  States  — 
Each  of  ye  above  named  Perfons  had  a  separate  Vote." 

"Feb.  19,  1781.  —  Voted  that  the  following  Perfons  in  ye  9th  Clafs 
(viz)  —  James  Morgan,  Jefse  Banks,  Hezekiah  Platt,  &  Zebulon  Platt, 
who  have  refufed  to  pay  their  equal  proportion  according  to  their  Lifts 
towards  hiring  a  man  to  serve  in  ye  Connecticut  Line  of  the  Continental 
Army  for  three  Years  shall  each  be  afsefsed  double  their  proportion  to 
Mr  Isaac  Gorham  for  the  me  of  sd.  Class  And  that  Mr  John  Byinton 
be  a  Collector  to  Collect  the  same." 

"March  28,  1781.  —  Voted  that  Captain  Gershom  Morehoufe  and 
Lieut  Nehemiah  Hull,  be  a  Comtee  to  Collect  the  Tents  belonging  to 
this  Town,  by  the  next  meeting. 

Voted  that  Mefsrs  Lemll  Sanford,  Ezekiel  Sanford,  &  Jn°  Gray,  be  a 
Comtee  to  vindicate  our  claims  to  ye  Continental  Soldiers  — 

"  Fri.  April  6,  1781.  — Voted  that  Peter  Sanford  and  Ezekiel  Burr  be 
a  Comtee  to  supply  Henry  Hopkins  family,  who  is  a  Soldier  in  the  Con- 
tinental Army  &  Ezekiel  Sanford,  Jno  Gray  &  Ebenr  Andrews,  appointed 
to  supply  Jno.  Lines  family  for  the  prefent  Year  —  Voted  a  Tax  of  two 
Pence  on  the  Pound  on  the  Lift  of  A.D.  1780  to  purchase  Soldiers  Cloth- 
ing, and  that  Elijah  Burr,  Ebenr  Andrews,  and  Ephraim  Robbins  be 
Collectors  to  Collect  the  Same  —  " 

"April  16,  1781.  —  Voted  that  Mefsrs  Seth  Sanford,  John  Gray,  James 
Rogers,  Stephen  Betts,  and  Micajah  Starr,  be  a  Comtee  to  put  the  In- 
habitants of  this  Town  in  eight  Clafses  according  to  their  several  Lists 
in  order  to  raife  seven  Soldiers,  and  one  light  Horfeman  to  serve  for  one 
year  as  Coaft  Guards  — 

Voted  that.  Mefrs  Will™1  Heron,  Micajah  Starr,  James  Rogers,  Aaron 
Barlow  &  Sam11  Mallery  be  a  Comtfee  to  correfpond  with  the  several 
Towns  in  Eairricld  County  to  know  whether  they  will  unite  with  this 
town  in  prefenting  a  Petition  that  was  red  in  this  meeting  refpecting 
our  money,  and  some  other  Public  affairs,  and  make  Report  to  the  next 
meeting." 

"April  30,  1781.  —  Voted  that  ye  6th  Clafs  (for  procuring  men  to  serve 
in  the  Guards  at  Horfe  Neck  till  ye  firft  day  of  March  next)  shall  pro- 
cure a  light  Horfeman  and  Horfe,  and  that  the  Town  shall  pay  said 
Clafs  all  it  shall  coft  them  more  to  procure  a  man  and  Horfe  than  it 
shall  coft  the  other  seven  Clafses  on  a  medium." 

"  May  28,  1781.  — Voted  that  the  firft  Clafs  in  this  Town  for  procur- 
ing Recruits  for  the  Connecticut  Line  of  the  Continental  Army  for  their 


roo  THE  FINAL  CAMPAIGN. 

neglecting  to  procure  a  Recruit —  (within  the  time  limited  by  Law)  for 
said  service  shall  pay  into  the  Treafury  of  this  Town  double  what  it 
has  Coft  ye  other  Clafses  in  this  Town  on  an  average  to  hire  their  Re- 
cruits. —  " 

"June  25,  1781.  —  Mefsrs  Jno  Gray,  and  Aaron  Barlow  appointed  a 
Comtee  to  enquire  in  such  ways  as  they  shall  think  proper  to  know  how 
many  Soldiers  we  have  in  the  Continental  Army  and  Report  make  to 
the  next  Meeting." 

It  was  also  decided  at  this  meeting  that  the  tax  on  the  list  of  1780 
was  "  to  be  paid  in  Silver,  or  Gold,  or  Beef  as  stated  by  Law." 

"June  29,  1781.  —  Seth  Sanford,  Ebenr  Andrews,  and  Stephen  Betts, 
appointed  a  Comtee  to  hire  three  Soldiers  for  the  Continental  Army  till 
y6  last  day  of  December  next." 

"  July  4,  1781.  —  Voted  a  Rate  of  three  pence  on  ye  Pound  on  the 
Lift  1781  to  pay  the  laft  Years  six  Months  men :  to  be  paid  in  Silver  or 
Gold  or  Wheat  at  six  Shillings  P  Bushel  to  be  collected  and  paid  to  the 
Select  Men  by  the  ioth  day  of  July  Inft.  —  Ebenezer  Andrews  chosen 
collector." 

Meantime,  affairs  in  the  field  were  progressing  toward  the 
culmination  of  the  struggle.  Washington's  army  was  still 
in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  while  Greene  and  other  leaders 
were  meeting  with  varying  fortunes  in  Virginia  and  the  Caro- 
linas.  A  corps  of  light  infantry,  made  up  chiefly  of  light  com- 
panies from  the  New  England  regiments,  had  been  organized 
and  placed  under  the  command  of  Lafayette,  who  was  charged 
with  the  defense  of  Virginia.  This  corps  was  armed,  uni- 
formed, and  equipped  by  Lafayette  himself.  His  opponent  was 
Cornwallis,  recently  reinforced  and  sanguine  of  victory  over 
his  youthful  antagonist.  In  the  operations  conducted  by  these 
two  armies  they  traversed  fields  which,  eighty  years  later, 
were  trodden  by  hosts  greater  than  any  the  Revolutionary  sol- 
dier ever  saw,  and  reddened  by  a  carnage  more  dreadful  than 
any  he  dreamed  of.  Meantime,  news  had  arrived  of  the  ap- 
proach of  a  fleet  and  army  from  France,  and  Clinton,  fearing 
for  the  safety  of  New  York,  ordered  a  portion  of  Cornwallis' 
command  to  return  to  that  city.  This  order  he  soon  after 
countermanded,  instructing  Cornwallis  to  retain  all  his  troops 
and  to  take  up  a  fortified  position  at  some  point  which  would 
afford  him,  in  case  of  necessity,  a  secure  retreat.  Cornwallis 
decided  upon  Yorktown  as  the  proper  position  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  here,  by  the  22d  of  August,  he  had  strongly  in- 
trenched himself.  Lafayette,  seeing  his  antagonist  now  in  a 


SIEGE  OF  YORKTOWN.  IOI 

position  where  a  blow  might  be  struck  at  him  with  a  prospect 
of  success,  duly  reported  the  fact  to  the  American  commander- 
in-chief,  and  Washington,  realizing  that  a  long-desired  oppor- 
tunity was  at  hand,  prepared  his  troops  for  a  march,  while 
ostensibly  continuing  operations  for  an  attack  on  New  York, 
and,  before  Clinton  could  penetrate  his  design,  wyas  far  on  his 
way  to  the  southward.  A  French  army  under  Rochambeau, 
a  French  fleet  under  De  Grasse,  cooperated  in  the  movement. 
When  Clinton  realized  that  Washington  was  really  on  his 
way  to  Virginia  he  sent  Arnold  to  make  a  counter-demon- 
stration against  New  London,  and  presently  the  country  was 
horrified  by  the  news  of  the  slaughter  at  Fort  Griswold.  But 
the  main  design  was  not  affected  by  this  diversion,  and  on  the 
29th  of  September  an  army  of  sixteen  thousand  men  encircled 
Yorktown,  and  a  French  fleet  blocked  the  river.  On  the  6th 
of  October  the  heavy  guns  arrived,  and  the  siege  was  pushed 
with  vigor.  The  same  night  the  first  parallel  was  dug  within 
six  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  line.  On  the  Qth  the  bat- 
teries opened,  and  fired  without  intermission,  causing  constant 
and  heavy  loss  within  the  British  works.  On  the  nth  a  second 
parallel  was  established  at  the  distance  of  three  hundred  yards, 
and  on  the  evening  of  the  i/j-th  two  advanced  redoubts  of  the 
British  line  of  defense  were  carried,  one  by  American  light 
troops  under  Lafayette,  the  other  by  French  grenadiers.  On 
the  i6th  the  British  made  a  sortie  upon  the  French  lines,  spik- 
ing eleven  guns  and  inflicting  a  loss  of  about  one  hundred 
men  on  their  adversaries.  The  cannon  were  soon  rendered 
fit  for  service  again,  and  the  situation  of  Cornwallis  grew  more 
desperate  than  before.  His  works  were  hammered  down  by 
an  incessant  fire,  his  guns  knocked  out  of  action,  and  his  am- 
munition nearly  expended ;  the  houses  of  the  town  were  honey- 
combed by  flying  projectiles,  and  the  streets  were  strewed 
with  dead  men  and  horses  half-buried  under  mounds  of  dirt 
thrown  up  by  plunging  shot  or  bursting  shell.  The  British 
commander's  last  hope  lay  in  a  possible  escape  from  the  town 
by  cutting  his  way  through  the  French  lines  at  Gloucester,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  The  attempt  was  made  on  the 
night  of  the  i6th;  a  portion  of  the  army  was  embarked  in 
boats,  but  a  violent  storm  arose,  compelling  the  return  of  the 
troops  and  frustrating  the  design.  On  the  following  morning 


I02  SIEGE  OF  YORKTOWN. 

the  American  batteries  opened  with  renewed  vigor,  and  the 
British  general  sent  a  flag  to  Washington,  requesting  a  sus- 
pension of  hostilities  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  terms  of 
surrender.  A  cessation  of  fire  for  two  hours  was  granted, 
commissioners  were  appointed  to  arrange  terms  of  submission, 
and  articles  of  capitulation  were  signed  by  Cornwallis  on  the 
morning  of  the  iQth.  The  allied  troops,  having  removed  from 
their  persons  the  grime  and  stain  of  battle,  paraded  in  two 
lines,  the  Americans  on  the  right,  the  French  on  the  left  of 
the  road  along  which,  at  two  o'clock  that  afternoon,  the  British 
garrison  of  Yorktown  marched  out  to  pile  its  arms  upon  the 
field  of  surrender.  A  great  concourse  of  people,  inhabitants 
of  the  surrounding  country,  also  witnessed  the  submission  of 
the  British  troops.  The  scene  was  a  memorable  one.  The 
army  of  Cornwallis  marched  out  in  full  dress,  but  with  ir- 
regular step,  and  ranks  imperfectly  aligned.  At  the  place  of 
surrender  many  of  them  threw  their  weapons  sullenly  upon 
the  ground,  and,  after  casting  off  their  equipments,  all  were 
marched  back  into  Yorktown.  After  this  had  taken  place, 
swift  couriers  were  seen  galloping  from  the  battle  field,  bearing 
the  news  of  the  great  victory,  spreading  from  town  to  town  a 
jubilant  cry  which  rolled  northward  across  the  broad  Potomac 
and  the  tranquil  Delaware,  the  plains  of  the  Jerseys  and  the 
camps  on  the  Hudson,  and  onward  through  the  towns  and 
hamlets  of  New  England,  re-echoing  in  its  passage  among  our 
own  quiet  hills,  "  Cornwallis  is  taken !  Cornwallis  is  taken ! " 
The  casualties  among  the  allied  troops  amounted  to  77 
killed,  200  wounded.  The  British  loss  was  156  killed,  326 
wounded,  70  missing;  7,247  men  laid  down  their  arms;  75 
brass,  169  iron  cannon,  7,794  muskets,  and  28  standards  be- 
came trophies  of  war.  From  the  British  military  chest  was 
obtained  the  sum  of  £2,113  6s.  Many  vessels  of  war,  trans- 
ports, etc.,  carrying  900  men,  surrendered  to  the  French  ad- 
miral. The  vanquished  troops  marched  into  captivity.  The 
Americans  returned  to  the  camps  on  the  Hudson,  where  a  day 
of  rejoicing  was  observed  in  honor  of  the  victory,  and  military 
affairs  relapsed  into  the  condition  in  which  they  had  been 
before  the  movement  upon  Yorktown  took  place.  Though 
efforts  were  made  toward  an  attempt  on  New  York,  the  same 
causes  that  had  previously  delayed  action  were  operative  still, 


CLOSE  OF  THE  WAR. 


103 


and  the  American  army  lay  in  comparative  quiet  along  the 
Hudson.  Other  influences  than  those  of  military  activity,  how- 
ever, were  bringing  the  great  conflict  to  its  close.  The  re- 
sources of  England  were  practically  exhausted,  and  the  end 
was  almost  in  view. 

At  home,  our  people  were  solicitous  as  ever  for  the  welfare 
of  our  soldiers  and  the  good  of  the  cause.  There  was  little 
more  to  be  done,  but  to  the  very  last  that  little  was  conscien- 
tiously performed. 

"  Dec.  26,  1781.  —  Seth  Hull  chofen  to  take  care  of  Jabez  Williams 
a  Soldiers  Family.  David  Sanford  for  Isaac  Olmfteds  Family.  Isaac 
Gorham  to  provide  for  James  Thomfons  Family.  David  Starr  to  pro- 
vide for  Henry  Hopkins  Family." 

"  Feb.  28,  1782.  —  Voted  that  this  Town  will  raife  their  Quota  of  Sol- 
diers to  fill  the  Regimt  of  State  Troops  by  Clafsing  the  Inhabitants. 
That  Mefsrs  David  Jackson,  Jas  Rogers,  and  Willm  Heron  be  a  Corn"6 
for  the  above  purpofe  the  abovesd  Comtte  appointed  to  warn  the  Clafses 
to  come  together  according  to  Law.  Capt.  John  Gray  Capt  Ezek1  San- 
ford  and  Jas  Rogers  appointed  a  Comtte  to  wait  on  the  County  Comtte 
at  Stephen  Betts  Esqr  the  4th  Day  of  March  next,  in  order  to  vindicate 
our  claims  to  the  Continental  Soldiers.  The  laft  mentioned  Comtte  to 
vindicate  the  Towns  Claims  to  the  last  Years  State  Troops,  when  ye 
County  Comtte  shall  attend  for  that  purpofe. 

Andw  Fairchild  appointed  a  Comtte  to  supply  Sam"  Raymond's 
Family:  a  Soldier  in -the  Continental  Army  — 

Elijah  Burr  appointed  a  Comtte  to  supply  Henry  Hopkins  Family: 
a  Soldier  &c." 

April  1 9th,  1783,  eight  years  after  the  battle  of  Lexington, 
a  cessation  of  hostilities  was  proclaimed  to  the  army  and  the 
country.  It  was  evident  there  would  be  no  more  fighting,  and 
that  independence  wrould  be  established.  This  was  a  sad  blow 
to  the  loyalists  who  had  taken  up  arms  in  the  British  service, 
who  now  saw  ruin,  through  the  loss  of  their  landed  property, 
staring  them  in  the  face.  In  the  hope  of  making  peace  with 
the  victors,  and  of  reclaiming  their  possessions,  many  of  them 
returned  to  their  former  abodes  and  sought  to  regain  their 
forfeited  rights.  Some  former  residents  of  Redding  came 
back  to  the  town  for  this  purpose  —  who  they  were  is  not 
definitely  known  —  and  a  portion  of  them  were  probably  al- 
lowed to  remain ;  to  what  agency  they  owed  this  favor  is  not 
clear,  though  it  was  doubtless  due  in  part  to  the  intercession 
of  patriot  relatives.  Others,  who  had  made  themselves  more 


IO4 


CLOSE  OF  THE  WAR. 


obnoxious,  were  forever  exiled  from  their  old  homes.  This 
action  is  indicated,  in  the  town  records,  by  the  last  entry  relat- 
ing to  Revolutionary  affairs. 

"Aug.  u,  1783.  —  Put  to  Voute  whether  it  is  the  minds  of  this 
Meeting  that  y6  Select  Men  of  this  Town  be  defired  to  remove  out  of 
this  Town  all  thofe  Perfons  that  have  been  over  to  and  Joined  tlfc 
Enemy,  and  returned  into  this  Town,  and  that  they  pursue  the  bufinefs 
as  faft  as  they  conveniently  can,  according  to  Law  pafsed  in  the  af- 
firmative." 

Melancholy  was  the  fate  of  these  men,  who  had  risked  and 
lost  all  in  the  conflict,  but  sadder  seems  the  lot  of  those  women 
—  innocent  and  helpless  victims  of  the  strife  —  who,  sacrificing 
all  the  ties  of  home  and  kindred,  loyally  followed  their  hus- 
bands into  exile,  and,  in  a  harsher  clime  and  a  strange  land, 
took  up  the  burdens  and  endured  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life. 
The  British  government  granted  lands  in  New  Brunswick  and 
Nova  Scotia  to  the  loyalist  exiles,  and  thither  they  betook 
themselves  after  the  peace,  beginning  a  new  life  in  the  wilder- 
ness, out  of  which  in  process  of  time  they  carved  towns  and 
cities,  and  peopled  the  region  with  their  descendants. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  1783,  a  definitive  treaty  of  peace 
was  signed,  and  the  war  was  at  an  end.  The  army  which, 
through  eight  long  years,  and  under  so  many  adverse  condi- 
tions, had  steadfastly  battled  in  the  cause  of  freedom,  was  no 
longer  needed,  and  nothing  remained  but  to  disband  it.  There 
was  not  much  of  it  to  disband.  Various  re-formations,  con- 
solidations, etc.,  and  especially  the  near  prospect  of  peace,  had 
largely  reduced  the  military  establishment.  The  Connecticut 
regiments,  for  example,  having  become  much  reduced  in 
numbers  before  the  expiration  of  their  first  enlistment,  were 
reorganized  by  consolidation  toward  the  end  of  1780,  the  eight 
.  regiments  being  reduced  to  five.  The  officers  of  the  last  three 
regiments  were  rendered  supernumerary,  and  the  men  were 
distributed  among  the  remaining  battalions.  Under  this  ar- 
rangement the  Fifth  and  Seventh  were  consolidated  and  desig- 
nated the  Second,  in  which  most  of  the  Redding  men  afterward 
served.  After  the  return  from  Yorktown  many  furloughs 
were  granted,  and  on  January  i,  1783,  the  five  regiments  were 
reduced  to  three,  on  which  footing  the  Connecticut  contingent 
remained  till  June,  when  all  soldiers  enlisted  for  the  war  were 


EVACUATION  OF  NEW  YORK. 


105 


discharged,  and  the  remainder  were  included  in  a  single  bat- 
talion, which  was  retained  in  service  till  the  general  disband- 
ment.  On  the  i8th  of  October  Congress  ordered  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  forces,  and  the  unpaid  and  discontented  soldiers 
of  the  republic,  parading  for  the  last  time,  turned  sorrowfully 
away  from  the  last  camp  ground  of  the  American  Revolution. 
A  small  force  was  detained  at  Newburgh,-  which  probably 
formed  part  of  the  column  which  entered  New  York  upon  its 
evacuation  by  the  armies  of  King  George. 

The  25th  of  November,  1783,  was  the  date  set  for  the 
evacuation  of  the  city  by  the  British.  Joy  rilled  the  hearts  of 
the  populace  as  regiment  after  regiment  paraded,  and,  wheeling 
into  column,  took  up  their  march  for  the  Battery,  where  they 
embarked.  Close  upon  their  departure  followed  a  column  of 
Americans,  amid  the  acclamations  of  the  people.  Arriving  at 
the  Battery,  they  found  the  British  flag  nailed  to  the  flagstaff, 
the  halyards  removed,  and  the  pole  slushed  with  grease,  to 
prevent  the  removal  of  the  ensign.  An  American  sailor  at 
last  succeeded,  though  with  great  difficulty,  in  climbing  the 
staff,  rove  new  halyards,  and,  ere  the  British  shipping  had 
finished  its  parting  salute,  the  banner  of  England  fluttered  to 
the  ground  and  the  stars  and  stripes  flew  in  its  place. 

Another  incident  of  the  evacuation  must  have  afforded  ex- 
treme satisfaction  to  those  who  had  partaken  of  the  hospitali- 
ties of  the  Sugar  House :  Before  the  British  troops  evacuated 
the  lower  part  of  the  town  a  patriotic  innkeeper  displayed  the 
American  flag  at  his  doorway.  The  emblem  caught  the  eye 
of  Cunningham,  the  provost-marshal,  who  angrily  ordered  it 
to  be  torn  down,  but  as  no  one  obeyed  his  command,  advanced 
to  seize  it  himself.  At  this  moment  the  tavern  door  opened 
and  Cunningham  was  confronted  by  the  innkeeper's  wife, 
armed  with  a  broom,  with  which  she  so  vigorously  belabored 
him  that  he  was  glad  to  seek  refuge  in  ignominious  flight,  amid 
the  jeers  and  laughter  of  the  spectators.  So,  with  his  British 
brethren,  he  sailed  away,  to  meet  at  last  the  very  fate  to  which 
he  had  consigned  so  many  others,  for  he  was  hung  for  forgery, 
in  the  city  of  London,  on  the  loth  of  August,  1791. 


106  THE  END. 

And  now,  the  long  strife  ended,  the  Revolutionary  soldiers 
of  Redding  returned  to  their  homes  and  to  the  arts  of  peace. 
They  saw  their  country  emerge  from  the  darkness  and  de- 
spondency which  closed  the  Revolutionary  period  into  a  newer, 
better,  stronger,  and  more  prosperous  condition,  under  the 
great  leader  whom  they  had  followed  in  the  long  contest  with 
Britain.  They  witnessed  the  unfolding  of  their  country's 
greatness,  as,  with  the  passing  years,  new  men,  new  measures, 
and  new  conditions  rose  into  public  view.  To  them  came 
changes,  also,  as  the  years  rolled  by.  Some,  severing  the  ties 
of  home  and  kindred,  sought  better  fortune  in  newer  lands. 
To  the  green  hills  of  Vermont,  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk,  and 
the  new  lands  beyond  the  Ohio,  they  wended  their  way,  and 
saw  their  native  hills  no  more.  Others,  remaining  in  their 
ancestral  homes,  lived  active,  prosperous  lives  amid  the  rising 
generations  till  age  and  infirmity  chained  them  to  their  fire- 
sides, where  the  Death  Angel  found  them  and  gathered  them, 
one  by  one,  to  their  fathers.  The  memory  of  their  deeds,  and 
even  of  their  names,  faded  from  human  recollection,  or  was 
traceable  only  in  the  uncertain  light  of  public  record  or  family 
tradition.  Here  and  there  a  long-roofed,  weatherbeaten  habi- 
tation, its  monumental  stone  chimney  still  defying  the  storms 
of  time,  guards  the  hearthstone  beside  whose  cheerful  firelight 
the  Revolutionary  soldier  told  to  his  wondering  listeners  tales 
of  great  deeds  and  glorious  days.  These,  and  the  graves  upon 
the  hillsides,  are  the  last  visible  memorials  of  the  men  who 
bore  well  their  humble  part  in  the  great  work  of  securing,  for 
all  men  and  for  all  time,  a  heritage  of  freedom.  Much  that  is 
herein  recorded  concerning  them  would,  ere  long,  have  been 
wholly  lost,  had  not  the  spirit  of  patriotism  aroused  the  desire 
to  rescue,  from  the  fast-closing  darkness  of  oblivion,  whatever 
could  be  gleaned  of  their  deeds  and  of  their  fate.  Such  labor 
has  been  here  attempted;  whether  satisfactorily  performed, 
the  reader  may  judge.  Out  of  all  that  store  of  experience 
which  fell  to  the  lot  of  our  Revolutionary  fathers,  only  this 
slender  chronicle  remains  to  preserve  for  coming  generations 
some  knowledge  of  what  they  accomplished  and  endured 
during  the  struggle  for  liberty;  of  the  scenes  they  witnessed, 
the  fields  on  which  they  fought,  and  what  they  contributed  to 
that  spirit  of  heroic  self-sacrifice  and  patient  endurance  which 
shone  amid  the  strife  and  stress,  the  terror  and  the  glory,  of 
"  the  times  that  tried  men's  souls." 


SOLDIERS'    MONUMENT,  PUTNAM   PARK. 


REVOLUTIONARY   SOLDIERS  AND 
PATRIOTS  OF  REDDING. 

["Posterity  delights  in  details."  —  John  Adams.] 

Soldiers  of  Redding  fought  on  a  dozen  battle  fields  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Brief  descriptions  of  the  actions  in 
which  they  participated  are  given  in  the  preceding  pages.  In 
several  of  these  a  considerable  number  of  Redding  men  stood 
shoulder  to  shoulder  in  defense  of  their  country.  But  one 
is  known  to  have  been  at  Saratoga  —  tradition  vaguely  indi- 
cates others  —  but  it  is  hardly  to  be  doubted  that  the  town 
was  well  represented  there.  While  no  remarkable  instances  of 
personal  heroism  or  great  achievement  enrich  these  pages, 
there  are  many  records  of  duty  faithfully  performed,  in  which 
we  may  feel  an  honest  pride. 

The  records  following  were  compiled  with  care,  and  are 
believed  to  be  correct.  Many  are  as  complete  as  it  is  now  pos- 
sible to  make  them,  containing  details  of  the  military  career 
and  subsequent  life  of  the  individual  never  before  collected. 
Wherever  possible,  family  lines  have  been  traced  back  to  the 
emigrant  progenitor,  leaving  to  descendants  the  task  of  keeping 
in  touch  with  their  ancestry.  The  name  of  the  soldier's  wife, 
whenever  ascertained,  has  also  been  included,  partly  as  a 
means  of  more  ready  identification  by  descendants,  partly 
because  it  seems  fitting  to  preserve  here  the  memory  of  those 
women  who  shared  in  some  degree  the  anxieties  and  perils  of 
the  Revolutionary  period. 

The  same  course,  as  far  as  practicable',  was  pursued  in  the 
compilation  of  the  loyalist  records. 


Correspondence  is  solicited  relative  to  corrections  and  additions,  and  those  pos- 
sessing additional  facts  are  requested  to  note  them  on  the  Hank  pages  of  the  book  as 
a  means  of  preservation. 

[Note.  —  A  superior  figure  at  the  right  of  a  regimental  number  indicates  the 
period  of  formation,  as  "still"  means  $th  regt.  of  the  first  formation,  1777-1781; 
"  5th2,"  5th  regt.  of  the  second  formation,  1781-1783;  "  2<J3,"  2d  regt.  of  the  third 
formation,  Jan. -June,  1783.  This  distinction  is  rendered  necessary  because  of  the 
renumbering  of  regiments  in  successive  reorganizations  of  the  Continental  Line.] 


io8 

ADAMS,  ABRAHAM.     1746- 

Abraham  Adams  was  a  member  of  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  com- 
pany, in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  commanded  by  Col.  David 
Waterbury,  which  served  around  New  York  and  in, the  Northern 
Department  in  1775,  and  took  part  in  the  operations  at  St.  Johns 
and  Montreal:  he  was  discharged  from  this  service  Nov.  28,  1775. 
He  next  served  as  private  in  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford's  company, 
5th  Regt.  Conn  Continental  Line  (formation  of  1777-81),  Col. 
Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding;  enlisted  Sept.  27,  1737,  for  8 
months;  discharged  Jan.  9,  1778.  He  was  pensioned  under  the 
Act  of  June  7,  1832,  for  13  months  actual  service  in  the  Conn, 
troops,  and  received  an  annual  allowance  of  $43.33  from  March 
4,  1831. 

Lineage :  Abraham4,  —  — 3,  Abraham2,  Edward  Adams1,  of 
Fairfield,  1650. 

ADAMS,  HEZEKIAH.     1764-1819. 

Born  Aug.  14,  1764. 

This  man  was  among  the  youngest  of  those  who  offered  their 
services  in  defense  of  their  country.  He  was  too  young  to  go  into 
the  ranks  as  a  soldier,  but  joined  the  army  as  a  teamster,  "  and  on 
one  occasion  drove  a  wagon  loaded  with  Spanish  milled  dollars 
to  Baltimore." —  [Todd's  History  of  Redding.] 

Married  Betty  Parsons,  Sept.  n,  1788. 

Died  Dec.  25,  1819.     Buried  in  Lonetown  Cemetery. 

Lineage :  Joseph5,  Abraham4,  3,  Abraham2,  Edward 

Adams1,  of  Fairfield,  1650. 

ADAMS,  STEPHEN.     1762- 

Born  July  15,  1762.     Brother  of  Hezekiah. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Regt.  Conn  Militia, 
Lt.-Col.  Jonathan  Dimon  commanding,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign, 
Oct.  5-25,*  1777.  Enlisted  for  the  war  in  Capt.  James  Horton's 
company,  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin's  Regt.  of  Artificers,  Mass. 
Line ;  never  returned.  The  name  "  Stephen  Adams  "  appears  in 
the  list  of  prisoners  who  were  confined  on  board  the  British  prison- 
ship  "  Jersey."^ 

ANDREWS,  EBENEZER. 

Sept.  1 8.  1777,  Ebenezer  Andrews  was  appointed  one  of  a  com- 
mittee to  procure  articles  requested  by  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  Safety  for  the  use  of  the  militia  sent  to  reinforce  Putnam  on 
the  Hudson.  April  6,  1781,  he  was  one  of  a  committee  of  three 
appointed  to  supply  the  family  of  John  Lines,  a  soldier,  for  that 


109 

i 

year.  April  16,  1781,  he  was  appointed  collector  of  a  tax  levied 
for  the  purchase  of  clothing  for  the  soldiers  in  the  field.  June  29, 
1781,  he  was  one  of  a  committee  of  three  appointed  to  hire  three 
soldiers  to  serve  till  the  end  of  the  year.  July  4,  1781,  he  was 
made  collector  of  a  tax  levied  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  six- 
months  soldiers  of  1780. 

It  is  not  clear  whether  this  was  Ebenezer  born  1720,  or  his  son, 
born  1752. 

ANDREWS,  FRANCIS.     1754- 

Corporal,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn  Militia,  in  the 
Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-24,  1777.  Appointed  an  Inspector  of 
Provisions,  March  13,  1780.  The  duty  of  inspectors  was  to  pre- 
vent supplies  from  being  carried  out  of  the  town. 

Lineage:  Ebenezer4,  1720,  Ensign  John3,  John2,  Francis  An- 
drews1, of  Hartford  and  Fairfield,  1660. 

[Name  generally  spelled  "Andress  "  in  the  records.] 

ANDREWS,  JONATHAN.     [Andress.] 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-15,*  1777. 

ANDREWS,  PETER.     1757- 

Brother  of  Francis. 

Private,  Capt.  Elijah  Abel's  company,  Bradley's  Battalion, 
Wadsworth's  Brigade,  enlisted  June  21,  1776;  taken  prisoner  at 
Ft.  Washington  Nov.  16,  1776. 

ANDREWS,  SETH. 

Drafted  by  Capt.  John  Gray  for  one  month  to  guard  the  shore 
of  Long  Island  Sound,  serving  under  Capt.  Thomas  Nash  in  Oc- 
tober, 1779,  at  the  time  of  the  skirmish  when  a  cannon  shot  from 
the  British  fleet  passed  near  Capt.  Nash. 

BAKER,  BARTHOLOMEW. 

Private,  Capt.  Elijah  Abel's  company,  Bradley's  Battalion, 
Wadsworth's  Brigade,  June  n-Dec.  25,  1776.  Corporal,  Capt. 
Ezekiel  Sanford's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line; 
enlisted  March  4,  1777,  for  3  years.  Reduced  to  private  Novem- 
ber, 1777;  discharged  March  4,  1780. 

Jan.  28,  1780,  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford  was  appointed  by  the  town 
to  provide  for  Baker's  family. 

The  marriage  of  Bartholomew  Baker  of  Redding  to  Sarah 
Fenn,  Dec.  29,  1778,  is  recorded  in  the  church  records  of  the 
parish  of  Judea  (now  Washington,  Conn.). 


no 

BANKS,  JOSEPH.     1713-1802. 

Dec.  22,  1777,  Joseph  Banks  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee 
to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families.  Feb.  3,  1780,  he  was  appointed 
to  provide  for  the  family  of  Ephraim  Wheeler,  Jr.,  one  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Banks  was  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Redding  from  Oct.  13,  1776,  to  his  death,  July  8,  1802.  Buried  in 
Sanfordtown  Cemetery. 

BARLOW,  AARON.     1750-1800. 

Born  Feb.  n,  1750. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
in  the  Northern  Campaign;  discharged  Nov.  28,  1775.  Ensign, 
Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fishkill  Campaign, 
Oct.  5-19,  1777.  Appointed  member  Committee  of  Inspection  Dec. 
22,  1777.  April  16,  1781,  he  was  appointed  on  a  Committee  of 
Correspondence  with  reference  to  the  state  of  the  currency.  From 
April,  1780,  he  served  9  months  as  lieutenant  in  the  company  of 
Capt.  Jesse  Bell,  in  Col.  Bezaleel  Beebe's  Regt.  of  State  Troops,  on 
the  Westchester  front.  In  May,  1781,  he  was  lieutenant  of  the 
coast-guard  at  Greens  Farms.  June  25,  1781,  he,  with  Capt.  Gray, 
was  chosen  a  committee  to  ascertain  what  number  of  soldiers  the 
town  had  in  the  Continental  Army. 

Mr.  Barlow  is  described  as  "  a  man  of  ability,  tall  of  stature, 
of  an  imposing  bearing."  [Todd.]  He  settled  on  a  farm  at  the 
foot  of  the  northern  slope  of  Umpawaug  Hill ;  the  house  in  which 
he  lived  still  stands  near  the  banks  of  the  Saugatuck  River.  His 
occupation  was  that  of  blacksmith  and  iron-founder.  In  conjunc- 
tion with  his  brother  Joel  he  established  an  iron  foundry  in  Weston 
—  probably  the  present  Valley  Forge.  He  was  a  deputy  sheriff 
of  Fairfield  County  for  a  time,  and  served  four  terms  in  the  Conn. 
Legislature  as  a  representative  from  Redding:  October,  1792;  May- 
October,  1794;  May,  1795.  Continuing  in  the  military  service  of 
the  state  he  rose  through  the  grades  of  captain  and  major,  and  was 
Lieut.-Col.  Commandant  of  the  4th  Conn.  Militia  from  1794  to 
1799.  He  went  to  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  died  there  of  yellow  fever 
in  1800.  He  was  a  pensioner. 

Married  Rebecca  Sanford  Dec.  17,  1772. 

Lineage:  Samuel5,  1710-1773,  Samuel4,  John3,  John2,  John  Bar- 
low1, of  Fairfield,  1640. 

[Todd's  Hist,  of  Redding;  Schenck's  Hist,  of  Fairfield.] 

BARLOW,  JAMES. 

Probably  son  of  Samuel  Barlow5  by  his  first  wife,  Eunice  Brad- 
ley; born  Jan.  29,  1/39. 


Ill 

lu  1780  he  procured  recruits  for  the  Continental  Army.     See 
Dte  of  the  town,  Jan.  8,  1781. 

B.ARLOW,  JOEL.     1754-1812. 

Joel  Barlow,  fourth  son  of  Samuel  Barlow5  and  his  second 
wife,  Esther  Hull,  was  born  in  Redding  (then  a  parish  of  Fair- 
field),  March  24,  1754,  in  a  house  that  stood  on  the  Boston  road, 
nearly  a  mile  west  of  Nob  Crook  Hill.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  in  moderate  circumstances,  who  evidently  desired  to  give 
his  son  the  best  education  he  could  afford.  Joel's  training  began, 
therefore,  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bartlett,  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Redding,  and  in  1773,  his  father 
placed  him  at  Moor's  preparatory  school  in  Hanover,  New  Hamp- 
shire. His  entry  into  this  school  is  chronicled  in  the  diary  of  the 
Rev.  Eleazer  Wheelock,  under  date  of  Sept.  14,  1773 : 

"Mr.  Samuel  Barlow  of  Reading,  Mass.  [?],  brings  his  son 
Joel  to  school.  The  said  son  is  to  officiate  as  waiter  on  table  at 
meal  time,  and  also  to  be  at  the  beck  of  Miss  Elizabeth,  only  in 
play  time  and  vacations  to  perform  such  errands  and  incidental 
service  as  she  shall  have  occasion  for  in  her  business,  and  in  consider- 
ation of  her  services  and  his,  to  have  his  board,  viz:  eating,  drink- 
ing, washing,  firewood,  candles,  siudy-room,  and  tuition."  [Hist. 
Dartmouth  College.]  Miss  Elizabeth  Burr,  mentioned  above,  came 
from  Fairfield,  Conn.,  to  be  with  Joel,  and  to  "  superintend  the 
cooking  in  commons,  and  manage  the  prudentials  of  it."  In  part, 
therefore,  Joel  Barlow  "  worked  his  way  "  to  obtain  an  education. 

Samuel  Barlow  died  Dec.  20,  1773,  leaving,  it  is  believed,  a  suf- 
ficient estate  to  enable  his  son  to  complete  his  education.  The 
young  man  therefore  remained  at  school,  entered  the  Freshman 
class  at  Dartmouth  College,  and  there  continued  his  studies  till 
November,  1774,  when,  circumstances  requiring  that  he  should  be 
nearer  home,  he  was  recommended  to  President  Daggett  at  Yale, 
and  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he  completed  his  academic 
course.  Here  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  several  young  men 
with  whom  he  was  afterward  associated  in  the  field  of  literature. 
Among  these  were  David  Humphreys,  afterward  aid  to  Washing- 
ton ;  Timothy  Dwight,  in  later  years  president  of  Yale ;  Noah 
Webster,  the  compiler  of  the  Dictionary;  John  Trumbull,  the 
author  of  "  McFingal " ;  Abraham  Baldwin,  later  senator  from 
Georgia;  and  others,  who,  in  after  time,  became  distinguished  in 
public  life  or  in  literary  pursuits. 

When  the  Revolution  broke  out  Barlow  was  of  age,  and  the 
sympathies  of  his  family  being  with  the  patriot  cause,  he  shared 
in  the  enthusiasm  and  military  ardor  of  the  day.  Two  of  his 


112 

brothers  served  in  the  Northern  Army  in  1775,  and  the  death  of 
his  mother,  Aug.  28th  of  that  year,  severed  the  ties  of  home  and 
left  him  free  to  follow  a  career  of  his  own  choosing.  However, 
he  did  not  abandon  his  college  course,  but  joined  the  militia  of 
the  state  as  a  volunteer,  and  is  said  to  have  spent  his  vacations  in 
camp  learning  the  duties  of  a  soldier  and  participating  in  several 
skirmishes.  It  is  stated  that  when  the  college  sessions  were  tem- 
porarily suspended  during  the  operations  on  Long  Island  and 
around  New  York,  he  joined  the  forces  under  Gen.  Washington, 
and  fought  bravely  at  the  battle  of  White  Plains,  Oct.  28,  1776. 
After  this  he  appears  to  have  pursued  his  studies  without  interrup- 
tion until  his  graduation  in  1778,  when  he  received  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  delivering  on  this  occasion  an  original  poem  en- 
titled "  The  Prospect  of  Peace." 

After  leaving  college  he  applied  himself  for  a  time  to  the  study 
of  law,  probably  making  his  home  with  his  brothers  temporarily. 
He  was  in  Redding  during  the  encampment  of  the  troops  there  in 
1779,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  been  connected  with  the  army 
in  any  capacity  at  this  time.  At  the  solicitation  of  friends  (of 
whom  Humphreys  and  Baldwin  were  particularly  interested  in 
his  behalf),  he  laid  aside  the  study  of  the  law  and  took  up  that  of 
theology,  with  a  view  of  obtaining  a  chaplaincy  in  the  army.  After 
six  weeks  of  preparation  in  the  summer  of  1780  he  received  a 
license  to  preach,  and  was  appointed  chaplain  of  the  Fourth  Mass. 
Brigade,  commanded  by  Col.  Bailey.  He  joined  his  command  Sep- 
tember 2d,  and  entered  upon  his  duties.  His  fourth  discourse  be- 
fore the  brigade,  October  ist,  he  describes  as  •"  a  flaming  political 
sermon,  occasioned  by  the  treachery  of  Arnold."  On  the  following 
day  he  was  present  at  the  execution  of  Major  Andre. 

As  a  preacher  he  is  said  to  have  been  much  respected,  though 
his  earlier  efforts  evidently  provoked  some  criticism.  Dr.  Thacher, 
who  met  him  about  this  time,  says  in  his  "  Military  Journal  " :  "I 
have  just  been  introduced  to  three  young  clergymen  from  Con- 
necticut, Mr.  Lockwood,  Mr.  Ely,  and  Mr.  Joel  Barlow;  the  latter 
is  a  chaplain  in  the  Connecticut  (?)  line,  and  is  said  to  possess 
a  poetical  genius.  Being  present  when  he  made  a  prayer  in  public 
it  was  remarked  that  his  performance  was  very  ordinary,  and  it 
was  replied  that  the  gentleman  had  not  been  much  accustomed  to 
public  performances,  and  that  he  was  more  calculated  to  attain  to 
eminence  in  the  art  of  poetry  than  in  the  clerical  profession." 

It  was  as  a  poet  that  Joel  Barlow  most  desired  to  be  known 
among  men.  In  connection  with  Dwight  he  wrote  many  patriotic 
songs  while  in  camp,  which  were  sung  by  the  soldiers  about  their 
camp-fires,  inspiring  them  with  devotion  for  the  cause  in  which 


"3 

they  fought.  But  a  greater  work  than  this  was  shaping  itself  in  his 
mind.  He  had  long  contemplated  the  making  of  a  great  epic  poem, 
which  should  be  an  enduring  monument  to  the  glories  of  his  native 
land.  He  had  been  influenced  to  accept  a  chaplaincy  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  this  purpose,  for  this  position  afforded  him  inde- 
pendence and  leisure  amid  scenes  which  lent  inspiration  to  his 
muse.  To  this  work  he  gave  thought  amid  the  duties  of  his  office, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  production  which  he  completed  a 
few  years  later. 

Barlow  remained  in  the  army  till  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
nearly  all  this  time  in  the  camps  on  the  Highlands,  engaged  in  his 
clerical  duties,  and  in  the  writing  of  his  poem.  The  most  im- 
portant event  of  his  career  during  this  period  was  probably  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Ruth  Baldwin,  daughter  of  Michael  Baldwin  of 
New  Haven,  on  the  26th  of  January,  1781.  After  the  final  dis- 
bandment  of  the  army  in  December,  1783,  he  retired  to  private  life, 
and  fixed  his  residence  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  began  in 
earnest  his  literary  career.  He  wrote  much  for  the  public  press, 
and,  conjointly  with  Elisha  Babcock,  a  printer  of  Springfield,  Mass., 
established  a  paper  called  "  The  American  Mercury,"  with  which 
he  was  connected  till  November,  1785.  During  this  period  he  was 
a  member  of  a  most  notable  company  of  literary  men,  widely 
known  as  "  the  Hartford  Wits,"  whose  brilliant  satires  not  only 
created  widespread  interest  and  amusement,  but  also  influenced  the 
politics  of  the  day.  After  severing  his  connection  with  his  paper, 
Barlow  again  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  law,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  at  Fairfield  in  April,  1786.  Unwilling,  however, 
to  make  use  of  the  methods  too  commonly  employed  at  that  time 
for  the  attainment  of  success  in  the  profession,  he  abandoned  this 
pursuit  and  turned  again  to  his  literary  occupations.  In  1785, 
at  the  request  of  the  General  Association  of  the  Congregational 
churches  of  Connecticut,  he  had  undertaken  a  revision  of  the  Book 
of  Psalmody,  familiarly  known  as  "  Watts'  Hymns,"  which  had 
been  in  general  use  for  half  a  century.  His  version  was  received 
with  approval  by  the  churches,  and  was  used  by  them  for  a  number 
of  years.  In  the  spring  of  1787  appeared  the  work  on  which  he 
had  labored  so  long  and  earnestly:  "The  Vision  of  Columbus." 
It  met  with  immediate  and  widespread  success,  passed  through 
several  editions  in  America,  and  was  republished  in  France,  and 
even  in  England. 

The  poet  had  now  achieved  literary  success,  and  his  course  in 
life  seemed  fully  determined.  But  at  this  juncture  an  event  oc- 
curred which  changed  the  tenor  of  his  existence  and  eventually 


114 

advanced  him  to  a  station  which  was,  perhaps,  beyond  his  most 
sanguine  anticipations. 

The  Continental  Congress  had,  during  the  Revolution,  promised 
as  a  bounty  to  those  who  should  enlist  in  the  military  service  of 
the  Republic  grants  of  land,  in  addition  to  pay  and  other  emolu- 
ments. This  promise,  however,  had  never  been  redeemed,  and 
after  the  opening  for  settlement  of  the  country  north  and  west  of 
the  Ohio,  a  number  of  officers,  who  had  been  entitled  to  land 
bounties,  conceived  the  idea  of  purchasing  from  the  government 
large  tracts  of  the  Ohio  territory  and  re-selling  to  immigrant 
settlers  from  abroad.  Associations  were  formed  for  this  purpose 
—  the  Ohio  Company  in  1786,  the  Scioto  Land  Company  in  the 
following  year.  The  directors  of  the  latter  organization,  looking 
about  for  a  suitable  person  to  represent  their  interests  abroad, 
selected  Joel  Barlow  as  their  foreign  agent,  secured  his  acceptance 
of  the  position,  and  in  the  spring  of  1788  he  sailed  for  France  to 
begin  his  labors  in  the  interest  of  the  Scioto  Company.  It  is  un- 
necessary here  to  detail  the  history  of  that  unfortunate  enterprise. 
That  history  forms  a  curious  story  of  financial  mismanagement 
and  nonfulfillment  of  promises.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  the 
lamentable  failure  of  this  speculation  appears  to  have  been  due, 
not  to  dishonest  intentions  on  the  part  of  its  promoters,  but  largely 
to  a  want  of  the  sagacity  and  business  experience  necessary  for 
the  safe  conduct  of  so  great  an  undertaking.  Financial  em- 
barrassments ensued,  unforeseen  difficulties  checked  the  progress 
of  the  work,  dissatisfaction  grew ;  recriminations  followed ;  the 
affairs  of  the  company  became  hopelessly  involved.  Barlow 
eventually  resigned  his  agency  and  withdrew  from  the  enterprise, 
from  which  he  had  derived  no  special  advantage,  and  which,  un- 
fortunately, had  been  the  means  of  embittering  some  of  his  as- 
sociates against  him. 

His  mission  as  land  agent  having  failed,  Barlow  once  more 
turned  to  his  pen  for  a  livelihood.  He  passed  his  time  between 
London  and  Paris,  and  in  the  latter  city  became  well  known  in 
literary  and  social  life.  In  the  politics  of  the  period  he  took  a 
deep  interest,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Girondist,  or  moderate 
Republican  party.  But  the  outbreak  of  the  French  Revolution, 
with  the  fearful  excesses  which  characterized  it,  made  life  unsafe 
in  Paris,  and  in  1791  Barlow  withdrew  to  London,  where  in  the 
following  year  he  produced  his  "Advice  to  the  Privileged  Orders," 
and  a  poem  entitled  "The  Conspiracy  of  Kings,"  both  of  these 
works  attracting  universal  attention.  The  first-named  was  an 
attack  ori  the  feudal  system,  the  religious  establishments,  the  mili- 
tary, judicial,  and  financial  systems  of  European  nations,  was 


warmly  approved  by  the  opponents  of  the  political  policy  of  Great 
Britain,  and  was  suppressed  by  the  British  government. 

About  this  period  Barlow  was  joined  by  his  wife,  and  return- 
ing to  Paris  he  again  took  an  active  part  in  French  politics,  be- 
came a  citizen  of  France,  and  accepted  a  candidacy  as  deputy  for 
Savoy.  While  on  a  visit  to  this  province  he  produced  his  pastoral 
poem  "  Hasty  Pudding,"  which  outlived  in  popularity  all  his  other 
works. 

The  result  of  the  election  being  unfavorable  to  him,  Barlow 
again  retired  from  political  life,  and  devoted  himself  to  business 
enterprises,  in  which  he  proved  successful  and  accumulated  a  con- 
siderable fortune,  which,  in  1796,  he  estimated  at  $126,000.  Hardly 
had  he  reached  this  condition  of  competence  and  success  than  he 
was  again  called  to  a  post  of  responsibility  and  honor,  this  time  in 
the  service  of  his  native  country.  Piracy  had  become  rampant 
on  the  northern  coast  of  Africa,  American  vessels  had  been  cap- 
tured and  plundered,  and  more  than  150  American  sailors  were 
prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  Dey  of  Algiers.  The  United  States 
government  desired  to  conclude  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Dey 
and  secure  the  liberation  of  the  prisoners,  and  Joel  Barlow  was 
induced  to  accept  the  mission.  He  remained  in  Algiers  for  a  year 
and  a  half,  and  with  great  difficulty  succeeded  in  effecting  treaties 
with  both  Algiers  and  Tunis,  and  setting  the  unfortunate  captives 
at  liberty.  This  was  not  accomplished  without  personal  danger, 
and  Barlow  gladly  concluded  his  negotiations  in  July,  1797,  and 
returned  to  Paris,  having  accomplished  one  of  the  most  difficult 
missions  it  was  ever  the  lot  of  an  envoy  to  undertake. 

For  several  years  after  his  return  from  the  Algerine  mission 
Barlow  devoted  himself  chiefly  to  commercial  and  literary  pur- 
suits. His  principal  work  in  the  field  of  literature  consisted  in 
the  expansion  of  his  "  Vision  of  Columbus  "  into  a  larger  work, 
which  he  entitled  "  The  Columbiad " ;  a  translation  of  Volney's 
"  Ruins  of  Empire,"  and  the  collection  of  historical  material.  In 
the  politics  of  the  period  he  took  a  renewed  interest  and  exerted 
such  influence  as  he  could  to  avert  the  threatened  outbreak  of 
hostilities  between  France  and  the  United  States  in  1798.  He  was 
the  friend,  patron,  and  adviser  of  Robert  Fulton  in  his  initial  ex- 
periments in  steam  and  submarine  navigation.  The  young  in- 
ventor was  received  as  a  member  of  Barlow's  family,  and  treated 
with  such  consideration  as  might  have  been  shown  to  a  son. 

In  May,  1805,  after  eighteen  years  absence  from  his  native 
land,  Mr.  Barlow  bid  adieu  to  the  country  of  his  adoption,  and 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  set  sail  for  America.  After  his  arrival 
he  spent  some  time  in  a  tour  of  carriage  travel,  and  then  located 


permanently  in  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  purchased 
a  fine  estate,  which  he  improved  and  beautified,  and  to  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  "  Kalorama."  Here  he  settled  down  with  the 
intention  of  passing  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  his  favorite  pur- 
suits, and  of  devoting  his  abilities  to  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men. 
He  published  an  edition  of  "  The  Columbiad,"  began  work  on  a 
history  of  the  United  States,  and  drew  up  a  prospectus  for  a 
national  university;  a  bill  for  the  incorporation  of  the  institution 
was  introduced  in  the  Senate  in  1806,  but  was  never  acted  upon. 

The  years  spent  at  Kalorama  were  the  last  the  poet  was  ever 
to  know  of  the  comforts  of  home  and  the  happiness  of  domestic 
life.  Meantime,  the  hand  of  fate  was  shaping  those  events  which 
were  destined  to  draw  him  from  his  retirement  for  a  final  service 
to  his  native  country,  and  to  the  end  of  his  career.  The  difficulties 
which  had  grown  out  of  the  belligerent  relations  of  France  and 
England  had  so  affected  American  interests  that  it  was  considered 
necessary  to  send  a  special  envoy  to  France  to  effect  a  treaty  with 
Napoleon  for  the  protection  of  American  commerce.  President 
Madison  selected  Joel  Barlow  as  the  proper  person  to  represent 
the  Republic  in  this  difficult  mission,  and  the  appointment  was 
tendered  him  accordingly.  He  accepted  the  trust  with  reluctance 
and  a  melancholy  foreboding  of  his  fate,  and  sailed  from  Annapolis 
Aug.  I,  1811,  in  the  Frigate  Constitution,  bearing  his  credentials 
as  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  France,  and  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  his  nephew,  Thomas  Barlow.  After  his  arrival  in  Paris 
he  spent  months  in  vain  efforts  to  conclude  negotiations  with 
Napoleon,  who  was  occupied  during  this  period  with  the  plan  and 
execution  of  the  invasion  of  Russia,  destined  to  result  so  dis- 
astrously. It  was  not  till  October,  1812,  that  all  preliminaries  were 
at  last  adjusted,  and  a  meeting  with  Napoleon  was  appointed  to 
take  place  in  the  city  of  Wilna,  in  Poland.  Mr.  Barlow,  accom- 
panied by  his  nephew,  set  out  on  his  journey  of  nearly  650  leagues, 
in  the  inclement  winter  season,  to  complete  his  mission.  Arrived 
at  his  destination  he  waited  in  vain  for  the  promised  interview, 
for  the  French  army  was  soon  in  the  full  tide  of  retreat  from  the 
terrible  disaster  of  the  Beresina,  and  Napoleon  fled  in  disguise 
towards  Paris,  whither  the  deeply-disappointed  envoy  sought  to 
follow  him,  but  had  not  proceeded  far  on  his  journey  when  he 
was  seized  with  an  acute  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  which  com- 
pelled a  halt  at  the  village  of  Zarnowica,  near  Cracow,  where, 
after  five  days'  illness,  he  died,  Dec.  24,  1812.  As  it  was  impos- 
sible to  remove  his  body  he  was  buried  at  that  place,  and  his  sor- 
rowing companions  returned  to  Paris,  bearing  the  news  of  his 
melancholy  fate. 


ii; 

The  tidings  of  Mr.  Barlow's  death  were  received  with  profound 
regret  in  both  Europe  and  America.  The  leading  journals  of 
France,  the  Republican  press  of  the  United  States,  and  the  dead 
man's  personal  friends  and  admirers  in  both  countries  eulogized 
his  career,  and  united  in  expressions  of  sorrow  over  his  untimely 
decease.  His  mission  remained  unfulfilled,  and  his  disconsolate 
widow  recrossed  the  wide  Atlantic,  and  returned  to  her  desolate 
home,  where  she  lived  in  retirement  till  her  own  death,  May  29, 
1818. 

The  memory  of  Joel  Barlow  faded  from  the  minds  of  men,  but 
the  work  that  he  had  done  left  its  impress  on  the  course  of  human 
affairs.  In  literature,  statesmanship,  and  education  his  ideas  are 
perpetuated  and  are  embodied  in  the  institutions  of  our  country. 

No  personal  description  of  Mr.  Barlow  is  known  to  exist,  but 
several  portraits  of  him  are  preserved,  one  of  which,  from  a  paint- 
ing by  Chappell,  is  reproduced  herewith,  as  giving  the  best  gen- 
eral Idea  of  the  personality  of  the  man.  He  was  particular  in  the 
observance  of  correct  personal  habits,  neat  in  apparel,  and  atten- 
tive to  the  forms  of  polite  behavior.  His  private  character  was 
unblemished,  and  he  had  a  deep  dislike  of  aristocratic  pretension, 
and  of  conditions  tending  to  social  inequality. 

"  In  private  life,"  says  Everest,  "  Mr.  Barlow  was  highly  es- 
teemed for  his  amiable  temperament  and  many  social  excellences. 
His  manners  were  generally  grave  and  dignified,  and  he  possessed 
little  facility  for  general  conversation,  but  with  his  intimate 
friends  he  was  easy  and  familiar,  and  upon  topics  which  interested 
him  he  discoursed  with  much  animation.  His  mind  was  rather  of 
a  philosophical  than  a  poetical  cast,  and  better  adapted  to  those 
studies  which  require  patient  investigation  and  profound  thought 
than  to  the  lighter  and  more  fanciful  labors  of  the  muse.  Still, 
as  a  poet,  he  held  no  humble  place  among  the  authors  of  his  day, 
while  as  an  ardent  patriot,  a  sincere  philanthropist,  a  zealous 
republican,  and  a  friend  and  patron  of  science  and  art,  he  must 
ever  stand  among  the  most  distinguished  men  of  his  age  and 
country!" 

In  1809  the  University  of  Georgia  conferred  upon  Mr.  Barlow 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Mass. 
Society  of  the  Cincinnati. 

[Chas.  B.  Todd's  "  Life  and  Letters  of  Joel  Barlow  " ;  Todd's 
"  History  of  Redding  "  ;  Schenck's  "  History  of  Fairfield  "  ;  Ever- 
est's "  Poets  of  Connecticut  " ;  Duyckinck's  "  National  Portrait  Gal- 
lery " ;  Drake's  and  Allen's  "  Biographical  Dictionaries."] 

BARLOW,  NATHANIEL.     1745-1782. 
Born  May  13,  1745.     Bro.  of  Aaron. 


n8 

He  was  a  signer  of  the  Redding  Loyalist  Association,  but  evi- 
dently espoused  the  patriot  cause  early  in  the  war.  Sept.  18,  1777, 
the  town  appointed  him  one  of  the  committee  empowered  to  pro- 
cure the  articles  (camp  equipage  for  the  use  of  the  militia  to  be 
sent  to  the  Hudson)  requested  by  the  Governor  and  Council  of 
Safety.  Jan.  28,  1780,  he  was  appointed  by  the  town  to  care  for 
the  family  of  Nathan  Coley  in  place  of  Nehemiah  Hull.  At  the 
town  meeting  of  June  23,  1780,  he  was  appointed  one  of  a  com- 
mittee of  nine  to  hire  nine  soldiers  for  the  Conn.  Line  of  the 
Continental  Army. 

Married  Jane  Bradley. 

Died  Dec.  26,  1782.     Buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

BARLOW,  SAMUEL.     1752-1776. 

Born  April  3,  1752,     Bro.  of  Aaron. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
in  the  Campaign  in  the  Northern  Department,  and, was  discharged 
Nov.  28,  1775.  On  the  way  home  he  became  extremely  ill,  and 
lay  at  the  house  of  one  David  Mulford,  in  Poughkeepsie,  cared  for 
by  his  brother  Aaron,  who  served  in  the  same  company  with  him, 
and  by  his  brother  Nathaniel,  who  came  on  from  Redding  to  meet 
him.  He  was  attended  by  different  physicians,  but  died  after  an 
illness  of  several  weeks.  Bills  for  medical  attendance,  medicines, 
and  other  expenses  (here  reproduced),  were  paid  by  Nathaniel, 
who  was  afterward  reimbursed  from  the  colony  treasury. 

THE  ESTATE  OF  SAMUEL  BARLOW,  DEC.  BILL. 

Late  a  Soldier  in  Cap*  Zalmon  Reads  Company,  Col.  Waterbury's 
Reg*  who  Sickned  and  Died  at  Poughkeepsie  on  his  way  Home  from 
Northern  Army 

To  Sundry  Doctor's  Bills  who  did  for  him  in  his  long  and  very 
Expensive  Sicknefs,  settled  and  paid  by  his  Brother  Nathaniel  Barlow, 
who  tended  him.  in  his  Sicknefs,  viz  — 

To  Doctor  Tappen's  Bill  viz  — 
1775     Decr  15th    To  Visit.  Pulv.  Rhei. 
Spt.    N.   D.    I    ij 
&  Vt  io:  16:    6 

i;th    To  Sp.  Cots  Sn  6/— 

Elix  Asth  5  r  2/6    o :     8 :     6 
To    Ing1    Drink    3/6 
2     Blis     3/       Pr 
Cons    g/  o:   14:     o 

21  To  Visit  Bord  gal 
i6/  Emp  Epis4 
2/  Pr  Con8  g/  1:5:0 

26       To  Visit  Pr  Cor1  

§  6     Spen  1:4:     o 

4:     8 


U9 

1776  Janr  7th  To  Doctor  Hearsted's 
Bill  for  sundry 
Medicines  &  visits 
to  said  Barlow  2:  10:  9 

To  Doctor  John  Bard's  Bill  viz  — 
1776    Jan      7th    To    i    Visit    $/    To 
6    Doses    of    Pec- 
toral  Pills  6/  o :  i  T  :     o 
To  2  Paray  Draughts    o :     3  :     o 
17th     To      i      Visit      re- 
peated   5/ —     To 
Cordial       restorat 
drops    5    ij  2/9        o:     7:     9 
19th     To       i       Visit      re- 
peated   s/ —      To 
12         Restorative 
Powders   i2/  o:  17:    o 
23d     To    i   ditto   ditto  S/ 
To       2       purging 
Draughts  3/   App 
Bolus   i/  o:     9:    o 

2:     7:     9 

NATHL  BARLOW  —  New  York  Money  £9 :    6 :    6  —  6 :  19 : 
Reading  June  12th  1776. 

Then  appeard  Nathaniel  Barlow  the  above  Subscriber  and 
made  oath  to  the  above  mentioned  sums  — 

before  me 

Wm  HAWLEY  Jus*  Pacs 

Receivd  June  19th  1776,  an  Order  on  Colony  Treasurer  in  full  of  the 
above  amt  receivd  for  the  Estate  of  the  Deca 

P  HEZEKIAH  SANFORD. 
To  Nathaniel  Barlow's  Bill,  viz 

To  Cash  paid  David  Mulford's  Bill  for  the  following  expenses  for 
Samuel  Barlow  Decd  late  a  Soldier  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Reads  Company  viz 
To  lying  Sick  at  my  House  7l/2  Weeks  Ex- 

tream  Sick  and  Died  @  2O/  Pr  Week          7:  10 
To  Tenders   Bill  and  Board,  2  of  them,  7l/2 

Weeks  @  i6/  Pr  Week  6: 

To   Sundry   Medicines  n:     6 

To  Funeral  Charges  16 : 

New  York  Money  14:  17:     6 

— 11:     3:     i# 
DAVID  MULFORD 

Reading  —  Fairfield  County  May  6th  1776. 

Personally  appeared  Nathaniel  Barlow  and 

made  oath  that  he  had  paid  the  above  Acct  to  the  above  named  David 
Mulford 

Sworn  before  me  —  LEM'L  SANFORD  Jus  Pac8 

May  23,  1776.  Received  an  order  on  Colony  Treasurer  for  Eleven 
pounds  three  Shillings  one  penny  l/2  —  in  full  of  the  above  Acct 

P  SETH  SANFORD 


I2O 

A  passage  from  "  The  Columbiad  "  seems  to  make  special  refer- 
ence to  Samuel  Barlow,  and  to  indicate  that  this  young  soldier  was 
strongly  attached  to  General  Montgomery. 

"And  thou,  my  earliest  friend,  my  Brother  dear, 

Thy  fall  untimely  still  renews  my  tear. 

In  youthful  sports,  in  toils,  in  taste  allied, 

My  kind  companion  and  my  faithful  guide 

When  death's  dread  summons,  from  our  infant  eyes, 

Had  call'd  our  last  loved  parent  to  the  skies. 

Tho'  young  in  arms,  and  still  obscure  thy  name, 

Thy  bosom  panted  for  the  deeds  of  fame, 

Beneath  Montgomery's  eye,  when  by  thy  steel 

In  northern  wilds  the  frequent  savage  fell. 

Fired  by  his  voice,  and  foremost  at  his  call, 

To  mount  the  breach  or  scale  the  flamy  wall, 

Thy  daring  hand  had  many  a  laurel  gain'd 

If  years  had  ripened  what  thy  fancy  feign'd. 

Lamented  Youth !    when  thy  great  leader  bled, 

Thro'  the  same  wound  thy  parting  spirit  fled 

Join'd  the  long  train,  the  self-devoted  band, 

The  gods,  the  saviors  of  their  native  land." 

An  inscription  on  the  tombstone  of  Samuel  Barlow,  Sr.,  states 
that  "  His  Son,  Mr.  Samuel  Barlow,  refigned  his  breath  in  the 
service  of  his  country 

he  died  and  was  buried  at  Rynbeck  on  return-s  from  the  victory 
of  St.  Johns  &  Montreal  Jan.  26,  AD.  1776,  aged  23  years. 

Thus  age  and  youth  without  distinction  fall 
Death  is  the  common  lot  prepared  for  all." 

BARTLETT,  DANIEL  COLLINS.     1755-1837. 

Son  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bartlett. 

On  a  Sabbath  morning  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  Daniel 
Bartlett's  father  brought  him  his  own  sword,  newly  ground,  and 
bade  him  go  and  defend  his  country,  Daniel  enlisted  in  Capt. 
Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  served  in  the 
Northern  Department,  and  was  present  at  the  capture  of  St.  Johns 
in  November,  1775;  was  discharged  from  service  on  the  28th  of 
that  month,  and  then  accompanied  the  unsuccessful  expedition  led 
by  Gen.  Montgomery  against  Quebec.  He  was  present  at  the 
burning  of  Danbury  in  April,  1777,  and  served  as  a  private  in  Capt. 
Gershom  Morehouse's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Campaign 
at  Fishkill,  October  5-24,  of  the  same  year. 

Daniel  C.  Bartlett  was  married  to  Esther  Read,  daughter  of 
Col.  John  Read  of  Redding,  Jan.  7,  1778,  and  after  her  death  in 


REV.  NATHANIEL   BARTLETT 


121 

1809  removed  to  Amenia,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y..  the  farm  on  which 
he  settled  remaining  in  possession  of  his  descendants  till  1901. 
Tradition  describes  him  as  a  man  of  small  stature.  He  died  Dec. 
13,  1837,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  near  the  village  of 
Amenia. 

BARTLETT,  REV.  NATHANIEL.     1727-1810. 

Born  April  22,  1727. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bartlett,  second  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  at  Redding,  was  a  native  of  North  Guilford,  Conn., 
and  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1749.  He  came  to  Redding 
in  1753,  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  March  2ist  of  that  year, 
and  presided  over  his  charge  for  57  years.  Throughout  the  Revo- 
lution he  sustained  the  reputation  of  an  ardent,  earnest,  and  fearless 
patriot.  The  incident  related  above  clearly  indicates  the  quality 
of  his  patriotism.  Other  traditions  of  him  bear  testimony  to  his 
courage  and  his  fidelity  to  the  cause  of  his  country.  During  the 
struggle  the  resident  tories  manifested  a  special  animosity  toward 
him  and  frequently  threatened  his  life,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to 
go  well  armed  when  making  his  parochial  visits.  He  built  a  bin 
in  the  garret  of  his  house,  in  which  his  youngest  son  Jonathan 
discovered  a  number  of  kegs  of  powder,  which  Mr.  Bartlett  had 
stored  there  for  the  use  of  his  fellow-patriots  in  case  of  emergency. 
He  officiated  at  various  times  as  chaplain  to  the  troops  stationed  at 
Redding. 

Mr.  Barilett  was  married  June  13,  1753,  to  Eunice  Russell  of 
Branford,  Conn.  In  addition  to  his  pastoral  duties  he  instructed 
many  of  the  youth  of  the  town  in  academic  studies.  Among  his 
pupils  was  Joel  Barlow.  The  church  and  town  records  show  that 
he  performed  the  marriage  ceremony  for  about  150  couples  during 
his  pastorate.  He  was  widely  known  and  respected  as  a  minister 
and  as  an  educator,  and  to  the  last  days  of  his  long  life  labored 
earnestly  and  faithfully  for  the  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare  of 
his  flock.  Passing  away  on  the  nth  of  January,  1810,  he  was  laid 
to  rest  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground  near  the  church  in  which  he 
had  so  long  officiated.  His  firm  faith  in  immortality  is  expressed 
in  the  text  inscribed  upon  the  tall  white  slab  which  marks  his 
grave : 

"  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life ;  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though 
he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live." 

Lineage :  Daniel3,  Daniel-,  Lieut.  Geo.  Bartlett1,  of  Guilford, 
1641 ;  Branford,  1649. 


122 

BARTLETT,  RUSSELL.     1754-1828. 

Son  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bartlett. 

May  9,  1775,  he  enlisted  as  fifer  in  the  6th  company  (Capt. 
Noble  Benedict)  of  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  served  in  the 
Northern  Department,  and  was  discharged  Dec.  n,  1775.  April 
26,  1777,  he  was  captured  by  the  troops  of  Tryon's  expedition  and 
taken  to  Danbury,  where  the  prisoners  were  temporarily  confined 
in  a  church,  from  whose  windows  Russell  Bartlett  saw  the  house 
of  his  father-in-law  consigned  to  the  flames.  He  was  carried  to 
New  York,  confined  in  the  Sugar  House,  and  after  experiencing  a 
measure  of  its  privations  and  horrors,  was  at  last  released  and 
returned  home.  June  22,  1778,  he  was  elected  constable  for  the 
town  of  Redding.  Aug.  9,  1779,  he  was  appointed  one  of  a  com- 
mittee to  procure  clothing  for  the  soldiers  of  the  town  then 
serving  in  the  Continental  Army.  Nov.  28,  1780,  he  was  appointed 
to  receive  the  beef  and  pork  collected  for  the  army,  and  sworn  to 
a  faithful  discharge  of  his  trust. 

Mr.  Bartlett  was  a  man  of  fine  figure  and  upright  character. 
He  married  Rachel  Taylor  of  Danbury,  Feb.  28,  1776,  removed 
after  the  war  to  Cooperstown,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  on 
a  farm  in  the  adjoining  town  of  Hartwick,  where  he  died  Nov. 
21,  1828.  He  is  buried  in  his  family  lot  in  the  village  cemetery 
at  Cooperstown,  near  the  grave  of  the  novelist  James  Fenimore 
Cooper.  Upon  his  tombstone  is  inscribed  this  tribute  to  his  char- 
acter : 

"A  man  who,  with  those  of  worth,  loved  honesty,  was  well  agreed." 

BARTRAM,  DANIEL. 

Served  with  the  militia  in  Tryon's  Raid,  April,  1777,  and  is 
thought  to  be  the  man  of  that  name  who  served  in  Maj.  Ezra 
Starr's  Regt.  of  Light  Horse,  under  Capt.  Hull  at  Fairfield  in 
1780,  till  Jan.  I,  1781. 

BARTRAM,  ISAAC.     1758-1844. 

Private,  Capt.  James  Horton's  company,  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan 
Baldwin's  Regt.  of  Artificers,  Mass.  Line;  enlisted  from  Danbury, 
Aug.  22,  1777,  for  3  years.  He  was  pensioned  under  the  Act  of 
March  18,  1818,  as  a  private  of  the  Mass.  Line,  was  granted  an 
annual  allowance  of  $96,  and  received  a  total  of  $1,531.06  up  to 
1833-4.  His  name  was  placed  on  the  pension  roll  May  20,  1819, 
the  pension  dating  from  March  24,  1818.  The  date  of  his  death 
is  given  as  Sept.  13,  1843.  His  grave  in  the  Lonetown  Cemetery 
is  marked  by  a  large  boulder,  on  which  is  inscribed : 


123 

ISAAC   BARTRAM 

An   Artificer   in   the   Revolution. 

Born  in  Redding,  1758. 

Died  in  Redding,   1844. 

BARTRAM,  JAMES.     1738- 

Born  at  Fairfield,  Conn.,  April  18,  1738. 

Enlisted  from  Fairfield  in  June,  1/76,  as  private  in  the  ist 
Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  Col.  Gold  Selleck  Silliman  com- 
manding, and  served  6  months  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Zalmon 
Read.  During  this  period  he  was  engaged  in  the  actions  at  Flat- 
bush  (L.  I.),  Aug.  27,  liarlem  Sept.  15,  and  White  Plains  Oct. 
28,  1776.  In  the  spring  of  1779  he  served  3  months  in  the  i6th 
Conn.  Militia,  Col.  Nehemiah  Beardsley  commanding,  in  the  com- 
pany of  Capt.  Daniel  Hickok,  as  a  private.  He  applied  for  a 
pension  Aug.  u,  1832,  then  residing  at  Danbury,  and  was  granted 
an  allowance  of  $25  per  year  from  March  4,  1831,  his  name  being 
placed  on  the  roll  Nov.  6,  1832.  Three  pension  payments  —  $75  — 
are  recorded  as  paid  to  him  by  1834. 

BATES,  EZRA.     1758- 

Born  in  Redding  March  n,  1758. 

Enlisted  from  Redding  in  June,  1776,  as  a  private  in  Capt. 
Zalmon  Read's  company,  ist  Battalion  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  Col. 
Gold  Selleck  Silliman  commanding,  served  6  months,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  Battle  of  White  Plains,  Oct.  28,  1/76,  re-entered 
service  in  October,  1778,  and  served  6  months  as  teamster  under 
Micajah  Starr  and  William  Stone,  conductors  of  teams.  In  1780 
he  served  9  months  as  private  in  Capt.  [Jesse]  Bell's  company,  in 
the  Regt.  of  State  Troops  commanded  by  Col.  Bezaleel  Beebe. 
This  regiment  was  posted  at  Horseneck,  and  had  frequent  skir- 
mishes with  the  enemy  on  the  Westchester  front.  In  the  spring  of 
1782  he  enlisted  as  private  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Jonathan 
Heart,  ist  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Lt.-Col.  Thomas  Gros- 
venor  commanding,  and  served  8  months  and  16  days.  The  rec- 
ords give  the  dates  of  his  enlistment  and  discharge  as  April  26, 
1782-Jan.  i,  1783.  He  applied  for  a  pension  July  30,  1832  (then 
living  in  Redding),  and  his  claim  was  allowed.  His  name  was 
placed  on  the  roll  April  30,  1833 ;  he  received  $80  per  year  from 
March  4,  1831,  and  $240  were  paid  him  by  1834. 

BATES,  JUSTUS.     1746-1827. 

Corporal,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777. 

Died  Aug.  8,  1827.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 


124 

BATTERSON,  JEREMIAH. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
in  the  Northern  Department,  discharged  Nov.  28,  1775.  Private, 
Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fishkill  Campaign, 
Oct.  5-30,  1777. 

Married  Betty  Clugston  of  Redding  Nov.  12,  1777. 

Has  descendants  in  female  lines  only. 

BATTERSON,  STEPHEN.     1761-1847. 

Born  Sept.  20.  1761,  at  Fairfield,  Conn.  Son  of  George  Bat- 
terson, who  also  served  in  the  Revolution  in  the  same  regiment 
and  company  with  his  son.  Stephen  enlisted  for  the  war  from 
Fairfield  Aug.  9,  1777,  in  the  7th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line, 
Col.  Heman  Swift  commanding,  as  a  private  in  the  company  of 
Capt.  Albert  Chapman.  He  participated  in  the  Battle  of  German- 
town,  Oct.  4,  1777,  and  the  storming  of  Stony  Point,  July  15,  1779. 
The  5th  and  7th  Regts.  were  consolidated  in  1781  and  designated 
the  2d,  commanded  by  Col.  Heman  Swift,  and  Stephen  Batterson 
served  in  this  regiment  under  Capt.  Thomas  Converse.  He  was 
enrolled  in  the  Light  Infantry  Battalion  commanded  by  Col.  Alex- 
ander Hamilton  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Thaddeus  Weed,  in 
which  he  served  at  the  southward,  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of 
Yorktown,  September-October,  1781.  Pay  rolls  show  that  he  was 
paid  from  Jan.  1st  to  Dec.  3ist  of  that  year,  one  of  his  pay  re- 
ceipts being  for  the  sum  of  $6  60/90.  He  continued  in  the  2d 
Regt.,  under  Col.  Swift,  from  January  to  June,  1783,  in  the  com- 
pany commanded  by  Capt.  Wm.  Richards.  He  was  discharged 
in  the  Highlands,  N.  Y.,  June  7,  1783,  and  honored  with  the  badge 
of  merit  for  six  years  faithful  service.  This  badge  was  an  honor- 
ary distinction  conferred  upon  noncommissioned  officers  and  sol- 
diers for  six  years  continuous  faithful  service,  and  is  described 
as  "  a  narrow  piece  of  cloth  of  an  angular  form,  to  be  fixed  to 
the  left  arm  on  the  uniform  coats,"  of  the  same  color  as  the  fac- 
ings. April  7,  1818,  Mr.  Batterson  applied  for  a  pension  and 
received  an  allowance  of  $96  a  year  from  date  of  application,  as  a 
private  of  the  Conn.  Line,  under  Act  of  March  18,  1818.  His 
name  was  placed  on  the  roll  Feb.  4,  1819;  he  was  dropped  from  the 
rolls  by  the  Act  of  May  i,  1820,  and  restored  Nov.  19,  1823.  He 
received  $987.20  in  pension  payments  previous  to  1831. 

Mr.  Batterson  married  Sarah  Wardwell  at  Norwalk  Oct.  20, 
1784,  settled  in  Wilton,  but  removed  to  Redding,  where  he  was 
enrolled  as  a  voter  April  7,  1817.  He  was  a  weaver  by  occupation, 
and  died  of  dropsy  in  Redding  Aug.  31,  1847.  Was  probably  twice 


125 

married,  his  wife  "Ame  "  being  buried  beside  him  at  Umpawaug. 
Lineage :    George2,  James  Batterson,  Sr.1 

BELDING,  MOSES. 

This  soldier's  family  received  supplies  from  the  town  in  1780. 
His  record  is  unknown. 

BELNAP,  JESSE. 

Jesse  Belnap,  a  soldier,  and  Eunice  Hall  were  married  April 
28,  1779,  while  Putnam's  troops  were  in  Redding.  His  military 
record  is  unknown. 

X 

BENEDICT,  THADDEUS.     1749-1799. 
Born  Aug.  14,  1749. 

Graduated  at  Yale  College,  1773;  removed  to  Redding;  was 
probate  clerk,  1776;  April  2,  1777,  was  appointed -on  a  committee 
to  hire  soldiers  for  the  Continental  Army,  and  on  May  5  of  that 
year  was  chosen  one  of  the  additional  selectmen  to  supply  the 
places  of  those  captured  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  and  was  reappointed 
to  this  office  Feb.  13,  1778.  July  30,  1779,  he  was  appointed  on  a 
committee  to  procure  clothing  for  the  Continental  soldiers  belong- 
ing to  the  town,  and  on  Nov.  28,  1780,  on  a  committee  to  class  the 
inhabitants  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  recruits.  He  served  as 
agent  for  the  care  and  disposal  of  confiscated  estates;  was  justice 
of  the  peace  from  1783  to  1795,  and  represented  Redding  in  the 
General  Assembly  for  six  sessions  —  May,  1783-84-90;  May-October, 
1794;  May,  1795.  He  was  one  of  the  most  celebrated  lawyers  of 
his  day.  having  a  very  large  and  extensive  practice,  reports  of 
cases  showing  that  he  practiced  in  every  county  in  the  state.  His 
law  office  stood  under  a  tree  in  front  of  his  house  at  Redding 
Centre.  This  tree  —  a  magnificent  specimen  of  the  American 
elm  —  is  still  standing. 

July  12,  1775,  Mr.  Benedict  was  married  to  Deborah,  daughter 
of  Col.  John  Read  of  Redding.  He  finally  removed  to  Bridgeport. 
He  died  in  Redding,  but  is  not  buried  there. 

Lineage:  Thaddeus4,  1727-1805;  Thomas3,  1694-1776;  James2, 
164 — 1717;  Thomas  Benedict1,  1617-1689. 

[Benedict  Genealogy.] 

BENNET,  DANIEL. 

Served  in  Lt.-Col.  Samuel  Canfield's  Militia  Regt.  at  West 
Point,  September,  1781.  Is  perhaps  the  drummer  of  that  name 
who  served  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Col.  Waterbury,  5th  com- 
pany. Capt.  Matthew  Mead,  from  May  12  to  Dec.  13,  1775;  and  in 


126 

Col.  Samuel  Elmore's  Regt.,  under  Capt.  Albert  Chapman,  "  at  Ft. 
Schuyler  alias  Ft.  Stanwix  "  in  17/6. 

BETTS,  STEPHEN.     1751-1826. 

Stephen  Betts  was  a  signer  of  the  Redding  Loyalist  Associa- 
tion, but  became  an  ardent  patriot  and  an  active  supporter  of  the 
cause  of  the  colonies.  He  was  selectman  in  1777,  and  was  sur- 
prised and  taken  prisoner  in  his  own  house  by  Tryon's  troops 
on  April  26th  and  carried  to  New  York,  but  was  released  and  re- 
turned home,  going  out  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Gershom  Morehouse's 
company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Campaign  at  Fishkill,  October 
5th  to  24th  of  that  year.  Dec.  22,  1777,  he  was  appointed  a  member 
of  the  Committee  of  Inspection.  The  duty  of  this  committee  was 
to  prevent  supplies  from  being  transported  through  or  out  of  the 
town.  Mr.  Betts  bore  the  title  of  lieutenant,  probably  in  the  east- 
side  company.  He  represented  the  town  at  four  sessions  of  the 
General  Assembly  —  May-October,  1782;  May-October,  1783. 

Died  Jan.  24,  1826.  Buried  in  Christ  Church  Yard,  Redding 
Ridge. 

BIXBY,  ELIAS.     1740-1827. 

Served  8  months  as  private  in  the  loth  company,  Capt.  Zalmon 
Read,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Col.  David  Waterbury  commanding, 
in  the  Northern  Department;  discharged  Nov.  28,  1775.  (Name 
appears  as  "  Elias  Brisby^'  in  the  roll  of  the  company.)  En- 
listed for  the  war,  Dec.  20,  1776,  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental 
Line,  Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding,  in  the  company  of  Capt. 
Ezekiel  Sanford;  promoted  corporal  Nov.  i,  1778,  sergeant  March 
3'  I7795  discharged  Dec.  20,  1779.  During  this  period  he  was 
enrolled  in  the  light  infantry  company  of  Capt.  John  St.  John, 
detached  from  the  5th  Regt.  to  form  part  of  the  light  regiment 
commanded  by  Col.  Return  J.  Meigs  in  the  assault  on  Stony  Point 
July  15,  1779.  He  was  a  pensioner  under  the  Act  of  March  18, 
1818,  then  residing  in  Oneida  Co.  in  the  state  of  New  York;  re- 
ceiving an  annual  allowance  of  $96;  his  name  was  placed  on  the 
roll  June  30,  1818,  the  pension  dating  from  April  loth  of  that  year, 
and  after  receiving  $182.63  in  pension  payments  he  was  dropped 
from  the  rolls  under  the  Act  of  May  i,  1820,  but  was  restored 
April  21,  1823,  with  the  former  allowance,  under  which  he  re- 
ceived $359.30  to  the  date  of  his  death,  Jan.  18,  1827. 

The  marriage  of  "  Elias  Bigsby  &  Grace  Sterling,  April  28, 
1771,"  is  found  in  the  records  of  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Wilton,  Conn. 


I2/ 

BROTHWELL,  BENJAMIN. 

This  man  served  five  terms;  enlisting  February,  1777,  he  served 
as  private  one  month  under  Sergt.  Sterling;  April,  1777,  8  months 
under  Capt.  Thorp;  April,  1780,  8  months  with  Lieut.  Silliman; 
June,  1781,  was  hired  by  Redding  and  served  5  months  in  Lt.-Col. 
Samuel  Canfield's  Militia  Regt.  at  West  Point  as  corporal  in  the 
company  of  Capt.  Stiles;  April,  1782,  8  months  as  corporal  under 
Capt.  Lacey.  Applied  for  pension  July  23,  1832;  had  a  yearly  al- 
lowance of  $84,  dating  from  March  4,  1831.  On  roll  Jan.  23,  1833; 
received  $252  to  1834.  Was  still  living  in  1840,  in  Fairfield,  aged 
81 ;  probably  the  soldier  who  is  buried  in  Mountain  Grove  Ceme- 
tery, Bridgeport. 

BROWN,  JOHX. 

Enlisted  for  the  war  in  Capt.  Stephen  Osborn's  company,  Lt.- 
Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin's  Regt.  of  Artificers,  Feb.  21,  1778;  deserted 
June,  1777  (?). 

BURR,  ELIJAH.     1743- 

Dec.  17,  1778,  he  was  appointed  to  provide  for  the  family  of 
Stephen  Meeker,  a  soldier  in  the  Continental  Army.  March  13, 
1780,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Inspectors  of  Provisions.  June 
23,  1780,  he  was  made  one  of  a  committee  of  nine  to  hire  nine 
soldiers  for  the  Continental  Army.  April  6,  1781,  he  was  made 
collector  of  a  tax  for  the  purchase  of  clothing  for  the  soldiers. 
Feb.  28,  1782,  he  was  appointed  to  provide  for  the  family  of  Henry 
Hopkins,  a  soldier. 

Lineage :  Jabez4,  Daniel3,  Daniel2,  Jehu1  Burr  of  Fairfield, 
1600-1670.* 

BURR,  EZEKIEL.     1755- 

Born  March  23,  1755.*     Bro.  of  Elijah. 

Served  as  corporal  in  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn. 
Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777.  Dec.  21,  1779, 
appointed  on  a  committee  to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families.  April 
6,  1781,  appointed  to  provide  for  Henry  Hopkins'  family. 

BURR,  JABEZ.     1752-1825. 

Bro.  of  Elijah. 

He  was  a  private  in  the  Revolution,  serving  in  Capt.  Zalmon 
Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  in  the  Northern  Depart- 
ment; discharged  Oct.  3,  1775.  He  fought  at  the  Battle  of  White 
Plains  Oct.  28,  1776.  and  a  year  later  was  present  at  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne. 


128 

Mr.  Burr  removed  to  Fairfield,  Franklin  Co.,  Vt.,  in  1786.  and 
died  there  June  28,  1825. 

BURR,  NATHAN.     1745- 

Born  Jan.  i,  1745.*     Bro.  of  Elijah. 

Enlisted  April  16,  1776,  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Jeremiah  Parme- 
lee's  company,  Col.  Samuel  Elmore's  Regt.  Re-engaged  with  Capt. 
Satterlee.  Is  recorded  as  sick  in  hospital  while  in  the  army.  Dur- 
ing his  term  of  service  it  is  said  his  wife  gathered  the  crops  on  his 
farm.  Dec.  17,  1778,  he  was  appointed  to  provide  for  the  family 
of  Nehemiah  Sherwood,  a  soldier.  He  removed  from  Redding  to 
Pawling,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  bought  and  settled  on  a  farm 
of  225  acres. 

BURR,  STEPHEN.     1757- 

Born  Jan.  16,  1757.*     Bro.  of  Elijah. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777. 

[*C.  B.  Todd's  Burr    Genealogy :     "  The  Burr  Family  " ;     Todd's  Hist. 

of  Redding.] 

BURRETT,  PHILIP. 

Sergeant,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777.  Appointed  Inspector  of  Provisions 
March  13,  1780. 

BYINGTON,  JOHN.     1740-1834. 

He  was  a  signer  of  the  Redding  Loyalist  Association,  but  early 
joined  the  patriots,  and  served  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  in  the 
company  of  Capt.  Zalmon  Read,  in  the  Northern  Department; 
discharged  Oct.  15,  1775.  Enlisted  Aug.  13,  1776,  in  Capt.  Elijah 
Abel's  company,  Bradley's  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade ;  served 
at  Fort  Washington;  discharged  Dec.  25,  1776.  While  the  Ameri- 
can troops  lay  at  Redding,  in  the  winter  of  1778-79,  he  served  as 
conductor  of  teams.  March  13,  1780,  he  was  appointed  an  In- 
spector of  Provisions,  and  on  Feb.  19,  1781,  was  appointed  to 
collect  a  double  assessment  levied  on  certain  delinquents  who  had 
refused  to  pay  their  proportion  toward  hiring  a  man  for  the  Conn. 
Line.  He  was  pensioned  under  the  Act  of  1818,  as  a  private  of  the 
Conn.  Line,  and  was  granted  an  annual  allowance  of  $96;  his 
name  was  placed  on  the  roll  Jan.  26,  1819,  his  pension  dating  from 
May  25,  1818,  from  which  time  he  received  $170.83,  and  was  then 
dropped  from  the  rolls,  his  service  not  being  Continental. 

Married  Sarah  Gray  Nov.  16,  1763. 

Died  Jan.  26,  1834.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 


129 

CHAPMAN,  DANIEL.     1743- 

Taken  prisoner  by  the  British  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April  26, 
1777,  and  carried  to  New  York,  where  he  died  in  the  Sugar  House. 
His  father,  Capt.  Phineas  Chapman  of  Greens  Farms,  a  veteran 
of  the  French  and  Indian  War,  was  also  captured  in  the  raid,  but 
lived  to  return  from  his  captivity. 

Married  Mary  Andrews  Jan.   12,  1773. 

Lineage:  Capt.  Phineas4,  1716-1782;  Rev.  Daniel3,  1689-1741; 
Dea.  Nathaniel2,  1653-1726;  Robert  Chapman1  of  Saybrook,  1616- 
1687.  [Chapman  Gen.] 

CHAPEL,  RUSSEL. 

This  soldier  was  married  in  Redding  to  Sarah  Osborn  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Bartlett  Oct.  3,  1779.  He  is  probably  Russell  Chapel  of  Nor- 
wich, who  served  one  day  in  the  Lexington  Alarm,  was  a  private 
in  Col.  S.  H.  Parsons'  Regt.,  6th  Conn.  Line,  under  Capt.  Edward 
Mott,  from  May  5  to  Sept.  12,  1775;  and  next  enlisted  for  the  war, 
Jan.  i,  1777,  in  the  4th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  John 
Durkee,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  John  McGregier,  in  which  he 
held  the  rank  of  sergeant  till  Jan.  i,  1781,  when  he  was  reduced, 
perhaps  through  consolidation  of  regiments.  He  was  in  service 
through  1781  (being  paid  from  January  ist  to  December  3ist  of 
that  year),  in  the  ist  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  John 
Durkee,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Robert  Warner.  Date  of  final 
expiration  of  service  unknown. 

COBURN,  EDWARD. 

This  man  is  believed  to  be  Edward  Coburn  of  Wlndham,  who 
enlisted  in  the  3d  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Samuel 
Wyllys,  Feb.  28,  1777,  for  the  term  of  3  years,  and  served  as  a 
private  under  Capts.  Wills  Gift  and  Henry  Champion,  being  dis- 
charged Feb.  18,  1780.  He  was  afterward  hired  to  serve  on  the 
quota  of  the  town  of  Redding,  and  on  July  16,  1781,  joined  Wrater- 
bury's  State  Brigade,  serving  as  sergeant  in  the  company  of  Capt. 
James  Stoddard. 

COLEY,  GERSHOM. 

Sergeant,  Capt.  Gershom  Morehouse's  company,  4th  Conn. 
Militia,  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-24,  1777.  March  13.  1780, 
chosen  an  Inspector  of  Provisions. 

COLEY,  JESSE. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777. 


130 

COLEY,  NATHAN. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn  Line, 
in  the  Northern  Department;  discharged  Oct.  15,  1775.  Enlisted 
for  the  war  in  the  5th1  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  1777-81,  Col. 
Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Ezekiel 
Sanford,  April  19,  1777.  Promoted  corporal  Nov.  i,  1778;  ser- 
geant, April  i,  1780;  died  April  18,  1781.  The  town  provided  for 
his  family  during  his  term  of  service. 

COUCH,  ABRAHAM. 

Enlisted  March  i,  1777,  for  3  years,  in  the  2d*  Regt.  Conn. 
Continental  Line,  1777-81,  under  Col.  Chas.  Webb,  as  a  musician, 
and  served  as  fifer  in  the  company  of  Capt.  John  Mills.  Trans- 
ferred to  Capt.  .Bezaleel  Beebe's  company  March  i,  1778;  dis- 
charged March  i,  1780.  Afterward  enlisted  as  private  in  the  short 
levies  on  the  2d2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Heman  Swift 
commanding,  and  served  9  months  as  a  private  in  the  company  of 
Capt.  Ten  Eyck.  Appears  to  have  been  a  resident  of  Fairfield 
during  this  period,  but  in  later  years  lived  in  Redding,  where  he 
was  known  as  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
applied  for  a  pension  April  8,  1818,  then  living  in  Redding,  and 
was  granted  an  annual  allowance  of  $96,  receiving  pension  pay- 
ments amounting  to  $1,095.72.  He  died  probably  about  1830. 

COUCH,  DANIEL. 

Served  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  com- 
pany, in  the  Northern  Department;  discharged  July  4,  1775. 

COUCH,  DANIEL,  JR. 

Enlisted  from  Redding  in  the  4th2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line, 
Col.  Zebulon  Butler  commanding,  Jan.  i,  1781,  and  received  a 
bounty  of  £30. 

COUCH,  EBENEZER.     1709-1797. 

Chairman  of  the  Redding  Committee  of  Observation  in  1775. 
Dec.  17,  1778,  he  was  chosen  to  provide  for  Elias  Bixby's  family. 

Died  March  23,  1797. 

COUCH,  ELIJAH. 

Served  in  Maj.  John  Skinner's  Regt.  of  Light  Horse,  Capt. 
Ezekiel  Hill's  company,  at  New  York,  from  June  n  to  Aug.  3, 
1776.  Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia, 
Fishkill  Campaign.  Oct.  5-30,  1777. 


COUCH,  JOHN. 

Town  Clerk  of  Redding  during  the  Revolution.  Believed  to 
have  served  in  17/6.  Nov.  20,  1780,  he  was  appointed  on  a  com- 
mittee of  three  to  make  out  a  tax  rate  for  the  purpose  of  supply- 
ing provisions  for  the  Conn.  Line  of  the  Continental  Army. 

COUCH,  JONATHAN. 

April  2,  1777,  he  was  appointed  on  a  committee  of  nine  to  take 
care  of  the  families  of  soldiers  in  the  service  of  the  country. 

COUCH,  SIMON.     1752-1829. 

He  is  said  to  have  loaded  his  goods  on  a  cart  on  the  approach 
of  Tryon's  troops  in  April,  1777,  and  fled  from  Fairfield  to  Red- 
ding, where  he  located.  He  was  a  lieutenant  in  1778;  July  30, 

1779,  he  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  provide  winter  cloth- 
ing  for  the   Continental   soldiers   of  the   town;   March    13,    1780, 
Inspector  of  Provisions ;  Dec.  25,  1780,  on  a  committee  to  care  for 
soldiers'  families.     In  1781,  he  was  authorized  to  procure  recruits 
for  the  Continental  Army. 

Died  April  16.  1829.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

COUCH,  THOMAS. 

Marched  from  the  town  of  Fairfield  for  the  relief  of  New  York 
in  1775,  serving  7  days  as  clerk  of  his  company.  May  n,  1775, 
he  enlisted  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Col.  David  Waterbury, 
4th  company,  Capt.  David  Dimon,  as  a  private  soldier.  Was  ad- 
vanced to  sergeant  June  21  st,  quarter-master  (sergeant  ?)  July 
nth;  discharged  Dec.  n,  1775.  He  accompanied  Gen.  Mont- 
gomery's expedition  to  Quebec;  Q.-M.  sergeant,  4th  Conn.  Militia, 
under  Lt.-Col.  Jonathan  Dimon,  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-31, 
1777.  Came  to  Redding  about  the  time  of  the  Danbury  Raid, 
April,  1777. 

Died  in  Redding,  1817. 

COUCH,  THOMAS  NASH.     1758-1821. 
Record  unknown. 

Died  Jan.  3,  1821.     Buried  in  Christ  Church  Yard. 

fc, 

DARLING,  BENJAMIN.     1739-1820. 

Member  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection,  Dec.  22,  1777. 
Died  Sept.  26,  1820.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

DARROW,  WILLIAM. 

William  Darrow,  a  soldier,  married  Ruth   Bartram  March  9, 

1780.  Military  record  unknown. 


132 

DAVIS,  LIEUT.  JOHN. 

Commanded  the  pth  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  1776,  suc- 
ceeding Capt.  Zalmon  Read  when  that  officer  entered  the  State 
Troops.  Lieut.  Davis  died  that  year. 

DAVIS,  JOHN.     1756-1840. 

Born  in  Redding  Dec.  20,  1756.  Probably  son  of  Lieut.  John 
Davis. 

Enlisted  June,  1776,  and  served  6  months  as  private  in  Capt. 
Zalmon  Read's  company,  ist  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  under 
Col.  Gold  Selleck  Silliman,  in  the  Long  Island  Campaign;  6  weeks 
in  the  spring  of  1777,  under  Capt.  Hull;  6  weeks  in  the  summer  of 
1778,  under  Capt.  Nichols,  in  the  regiment  commanded  by  Col. 
Noadiah  Hooker;  enlisted  June,  1779,  and  served  6  weeks  under 
Capt.  Hull;  3  months  in  1780,  in  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  Lt.- 
Col.  Samuel  Canfield's  regiment;  and  in  September,  1780,  served 
i  month  under  Lieut.  Hoyt,  in  Col.  Wells'  regiment,  always  as  a 
private  soldier.  He  continued  in  the  militia  service  after  the  war, 
in  the  4th  Regt. ;  was  ensign  in  1786;  lieutenant  in  1789;  and  after- 
ward captain.  Was  pensioned  under  the  Act  of  1832;  his  applica- 
tion being  dated  Dec.  6;  his  name  was  placed  on  the  roll  Aug.  6, 
1833;  his  yearly  pension  was  $50.68,  dating  from  March  4,  1831, 
and  he  received  $152.04  by  1834. 

Married  Eunice  Gray  Oct.  21,  1779. 

Died  Oct.  15,  1840.  Buried  at  Umpawaug.  His  widow  re- 
ceived a  pension. 

DERVEN,  WILLIAM.     [Dewen   ?] 

Enlisted  Aug.  24,  1781,  for  the  term  of  6  months,  in  the  short- 
term  levies  of  the  4th2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Zebulon 
Butler  commanding;  discharged  Jan.  i,  1782. 

DICKENSON,  LOCKWOOD. 

Served  in  the  3d  Troop  2d  Light  Dragoons,  under  Col.  Elisha 
Sheldon.  "Private.  Enlisted  Sept.  14,  '80.  Residence,  Redding. 
Occupation,  Farmer.  Stature,  5  ft.  7^  inches.  Complexion,  dark ; 
eyes,  blue;  hair,  brown.  Killed  March  14,  '82." 

| 

DIXON,  JAMES. 

A  private  of  the  4th2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  under  Col. 
Zebulon  Butler.  In  1781  he  enlisted  for  the  war,  and  served  in  the 
Light  Infantry  under  Lafayette,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Samuel 
A.  Barker,  and  was  paid  for  service  from  January  ist'to  Decem- 
ber 3 ist  of  that  year.  After  the  consolidation  of  regiments  in  1783 


133 

he  completed  his  service  in  the  2d3  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line, 
under  Col.  Heman  Swift,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Samuel  Corn- 
stock,  and  received  £30  bounty. 

DREW,  CAPT.  JOHN.     1724-1819. 

Conductor  of  teams  to  the  American  troops  encamped  at  Red- 
ding in  the  winter  of  1778-79.  His  36ns  went  over  to  the  enemy. 
[See  Loyalists.] 

Died  March  9,  1819.     Buried  in  Christ  Church  Yard. 

EVARTS,  DANIEL. 

Daniel  Evarts,  a  soldier,  was  married  to  Mary  Rowland  March 
30,  17/9,  while  Putnam's  troops  were  in  Redding.  His  military 
record  is  unknown. 

FAIRCHILD,  ABRAHAM. 

Frequently  appears  as  moderator  at  Revolutionary  town  meet- 
ings. He  had  six  sons  in  the  service,  who  are  named  below. 

FAIRCHILD,  ANDRE\Y. 

Feb.  5,  1781,  the  town  refused  to  abate  an  assessment  levied 
upon  him  for  the  purpose  of  hiring  troops  for  the  Continental 
Army,  as  he  had  relatives  who  had  gone  over  to  the  enemy.  Feb. 
28,  1782,  he  was  appointed  a  committee  to  supply  the  family  of 
Samuel  Raymond,  a  soldier. 

FAIRCHILD,  DAVID.     1753-1777. 

Born  June  5/1753. 

Served  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  com- 
pany, in  the  Northern  Department;  discharged  Oct.  22,  1775. 
Taken  prisoner  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April  26,  1777,  confined  in 

Trinity  Church,  N.  Y.,  and  died  a.  prisoner.  May  :6th. 

. 

FAIRCHILD,  EZEKIEL. 

Born  Oct.  26,  1746. 

Taken  prisoner  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April  26,  1777,  and  car- 
ried to  Xew  York.  Chosen  Inspector  of  Provisions  March  13, 
1780. 

FAIRCHILD,  ISAAC. 

Born  March  4,  1751. 

Served  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line.  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  com- 
pany, in  the  Northern  Department;  discharged  Oct.  22,  1775. 


134 

FAIRCHILD,  JOHN. 

Served  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  com- 
pany, in  the  Northern  Department;  discharged  Oct.  15,  1775. 
Private,  Bradley's  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  Capt.  Elijah 
Abel's  company;  enlisted  Aug.  13,  1776,  for  the  general  defense 
of  the  state;  discharged  Dec.  25,  1776. 

FAIRCHILD,  SAMUEL.     1755-1812. 

Born  July  9,  1755. 

Corporal,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777. 

Died  May  6,  1812.     Buried  at  Umpawang. 

FAIRCHILD,  STEPHEN. 

Born  March  7,  1758. 

Wounded  at  Ridgefield  April  27,  1777.  Private,  Capt.  John 
Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fishkill  Campaign,  "  for  the 
general  defence,"  Oct.  5-30,  1777. 

FITCH,  DR.  ASAHEL.     1737-1793. 

Surgeon's  mate,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Col.  David  Waterbury 
commanding,  in  the  Northern  Department,  1775.  Sept.  18,  1777, 
he  was  appointed  on  the  committee  to  procure  articles  requested 
by  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety.  October  5th  of  that  year 
he  marched  as  a  private  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Gershom  More- 
house,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Campaign  at  Fishkill;  discharged 
October  2Oth.  May  8,  1778,  he  was  appointed  to  provide  for 
Nathan  Coley's  family,  and  on  the  same  date  was  ghosen,  with  Capt. 
Read,  a  committee  to  provide  shirts,  shoes,  and  stockings  for  the 
Continental  soldiers.  June  23,  1780,  he  was  made  a  member  of 
the  committee  of  nine  appointed  to  hire  nine  soldiers  for  the  Conn. 
Line  of  the  Continental  Army.  Nov.  20,  1780,  he  was  one  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  make  a  rate  bill  for  the  purpose  of  supply- 
ing provisions  for  the  Conn.  Line  of  the  Continental  Army. 

Died  March  31,  1793.     Buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

FOSTER,  JOHN. 

A  pensioner  of  this  name  is  said  to  have  lived  near  the  lower 
limekiln  in  Umpawaug  district. 

FOSTER,  CAPT.  JONAH. 

Capt.  Jonah  Foster  was  of  Ridgefield,  and  one  of  the  prominent 
Revolutionary  characters  of  that  town.  He  commanded  a  com- 
pany of  the  alarm  list  in  the  i6th  Conn.  Militia,  under  Col.  Nehe- 


135 

miah  Beardsley,  and  was  in  service  during  the  year  17/9,  marching 
in  the  New  Haven  Alarm  July  5th.  In  1781  he  was  authorized 
to  procure  recruits  for  the  Continental  Army.  He  removed  to 
Redding  near  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  made  a  freeman  of  the 
town  in  September,  1782.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Ridgefield, 
where  he  died  in  1815. 

FOSTER,  TIMOTHY. 

Served  in  Lt.-Col.  Samuel  Canfield's  Militia  Regt.  at  West 
Point  September,  1781. 

FREEMAN,  JACK. 

A  colored  soldier,  known  as  "  Major  "  Jack  Freeman,  once  lived 
in  the  town.  Perhaps  he  is  the  man  who  served  in  Capt.  Edward 
Bulkley's  company,  in  the  3d2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line. 

FROST,  JABEZ. 

Taken  prisoner  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April  26,  1777,  and  car- 
ried to  New  York. 

GIBBONS,  JAMES. 

James  Gibbons,  a  soldier  in  Putnam's  division,  and  Ann  Sulli- 
van were  married  Feb.  7,  1779,  while  the  troops  were  in  Redding. 
His  military  record  is  unknown. 

GILBERT,  GILES. 

Giles  Gilbert,  an  artificer  in  the  army,  and  Deborah  Hall  were 
married  May  23,  1779,  about  the  time  the  troops  left  Redding. 
Possibly  he  was  Giles  Gilbert  of  Lyme,  who  served  8  days  in  the 
Lexington  Alarm  under  Capt.  Joseph  Jewett,  and  at  the  siege  of 
Boston  from  May  9  to  Sept.  22,  1775,  in  the  2d  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
commanded  by  Col.  Joseph  Spencer. 

GOLD,  SAMUEL. 

Enlisted  April,  1775,  as  private  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Zalmon  Read; 
served  in  the  Northern  Campaign,  and  was  present  at  the  siege 
of  St.  Johns;  discharged  Oct.  15,  1775.  In  January,  1776,  he  was 
a  sergeant  under  Capt.  Isaac  Hilliard,  and  served  3  months,  in 
what  regiment  is  unknown.  Sergeant,  Capt.  Elijah  Abel's  com- 
pany, Bradley's  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade;  served  9  months 
from  April,  1776;  discharged  Jan.  7,  1777.  Served  in  the  Danbury 
Raid  and  was  wounded  at  Ridgefield  April  27,  1777.  Served  as 
corporal  in  Capt.  Gershom  Morehouse's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia, 


136 

in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-24,  1777.  He  also  served  as 
sergeant  one  week  in  July,  1779,  and  one  month  in  the  fall  of  that 
year,  probably  in  the  alarms  and  coast-guard  service. 

Married  Sarah  Platt  April  8,  1778. 

Died  Feb.  9,  1829.  His  widow  was  pensioned  under  an  applica- 
tion dated  July  22,  1837,  she  being  then  80  years  of  age. 

GOLD,  STEPHEN. 

The  name  of  Stephen  Gold  appears  on  the  roll  of  the  company 
which  marched  from  Fairfield  for  the  relief  of  Boston  in  May, 
1775,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  David  Dimqn.  April  2,  1777, 
he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  committee  to  care  for  soldiers' 
families ;  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  3d  Regt.  Conn.  Light  Horse, 
commanded  by  Maj.  Daniel  Starr,  in  service  in  1779,  and  on 
March  13,  1780,  was  chosen  an  Inspector  of  Provisions. 

GORHAM,  ISAAC.     1730-1798. 

Appears  to  have  served  as  assessor  of  a  tax  levied  for  re- 
cruiting purposes  under  vote  of  Feb.  19,  1781.  Dec.  26,  1781,  he 
was  appointed  to  provide  for  the  family  of  James  Thompson,  a 
soldier. 

Died  July  4,  1798.     Buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

Isaac  Gorham,  buried  at  Sanfordtown,  perhaps  son  of  the  above, 
was  probably  the  man  who  served  as  private  in  Capt.  Gershom 
Morehouse's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Cam- 
paign, Oct.  5-10,  1777. 

GRAY,  CAPT.  JOHN.     1734-1793. 

Capt.  John  Gray  was  a  native  of  Redding,  where  he  was  born 
Feb.  17,  1734.  He  was  early  identified  with  the  political  affairs 
of  the  town,  his  name  frequently  appearing  in  the  earlier  records 
in  connection  with  educational  matters.  In  1776  he  was  a  member 
of  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  and  upon  the 
death  of  Lieut.  John  Davis,  who  commanded  the  company  after 
Capt.  Read  joined  the  State  Troops,  John  Gray  was  appointed 
captain  and  served  till  Capt.  Read's  return.  The  company  served 
under  Capt.  Read  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April,  1777,  was  at  West- 
chester  in  September  following,  and  marched  in  the  Fishkill  Cam- 
paign under  Capt.  Gray,  Oct.  5th  to  3ist.  The  Legislature  of 
January,  1778,  confirmed  Capt.  Gray's  appointment  as  command- 
ing officer  of  the  company :  "  This  Assembly  do  establish  John 
Gray  to  be  captain  of  the  ninth  company  or  trainband  in  the  4th 
regiment  in  this  State,"  • —  and  he  retained  the  command  till  the 
end  of  the  war.  While  under  his  leadership  the  company  was 


137 

stationed  at  Fairfield  in  June,  1779,  marched  in  the  New  Haven 
Alarm,  July  5th,  was  at  Fairfield  July  7th  to  oppose  Tryon's  troops, 
and  was  in  action  with  the  enemy  at  Norwalk  July  nth.  Capt. 
Gray  also  served  as  captain  in  a  militia  regiment  commanded  by 
Lt.-Col.  Samuel  Canfield,  ordered  to  cooperate  with  Count 
D'Estaing-  in  1779,  and  was  in  service  with  this  regiment  in  1780. 
He  also  commanded  the  coast-guards  at  Fairfield  for  short  periods 
in  1779  and  1781,  and  held  a  number  of  town  appointments  during 
the  war.  May  2,  1777,  he  was  chosen  selectman  to  supply  the  place 
of  officials  captured  in  the  Danbury  Raid;  March  13,  1780,  appointed 
an  Inspector  of  Provisions ;  also  served  under  the  following  com- 
mittee appointments:  Nov.  20,  1780,  to  ascertain  the  number  of 
Redding  soldiers  then  in  service;  Nov.  28,  1780,  to  class  the  inhabi- 
tants for  recruiting  purposes;  Dec.  27,  1780,  to  ascertain  the  length 
of  time  served  by  the  soldiers;  March  28,  1781,  to  vindicate  claims 
to  Continental  soldiers;  April  6,  1781,  to  supply  the  family  of 
John  Lines,  a  soldier;  June  25,  1781,  to  ascertain  the  number  of 
Redding  soldiers  then  in  service;  Feb.  28,  1782,  to  vindicate  claims 
to  the  Continental  soldiers  and  State  Troops.  He  was  again 
chosen  selectman  Dec.  12,  1782,  being  one  of  those  on  whom  de- 
volved the  duty  "  to  remove  out  of  this  town  all  those  persons  who 
have  been  over  to  and  joined  the  enemy  and  returned  into  this 
town,"  as  voted  Aug.  n,  1783. 

Capt.  Gray  was  an  active  patriot  and  trustworthy  officer,  and 
rendered  faithful  and  valuable  service  in  his  military  capacity. 
He  married  Ruhamah  Barlow,  half-sister  of  Joel  Barlow,  Aug.  7, 
1759.  Died  Oct.  25,  1793,  and  is  buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

Lineage:  John4,  1708-1755;  Jacob3,  Jacob2,  Henry  Gray1,  of 
Fairfield,  1640. 

GREGORY,  JABEZ.  • 

Private,  Capt.  Gershom  Morehouse's  company,  4th  Conn.  Mi- 
litia, Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777. 

GRIFFIN,  JOSEPH. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-15,*  1777.  Dec.  24,  1777,  he  enlisted  as 
private  for  the  term  of  3  years,  in  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin's 
Regt.  of  Artificers,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Jarius  Wilcox. 

GRIFFIN,  MORRIS. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
in  the  Northern  Department;  discharged  Sept.  23,  1775.  Served 


138 

as  seaman  on  the  brig  "  Defence,"  under  Capt.  Seth  Harding,  from 
March  21  to  June  22,  1776. 

HAMBLETON,  BENJAMIN.     [Hamilton.] 

Dec.  27,  1780,  appointed  one  of  the  committee  to  take  care  of 
soldiers'  families. 

HAWLEY,  CAPT.  WILLIAM.     1738-1797. 

William  Hawley  was  an  influential  citizen  of  Redding,  who 
rendered  efficient  service  in  various  capacities  during  the  war. 
His  military  appointments  were:  April,  1775,  1st  Lieut.  loth  com- 
pany, 5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  vice  Peter  Fairchild,  resigned;  but 
Mr.  Hawley  declined  the  office,  being  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
that  year,  and  Ezekiel  Sanford  served  as  lieutenant  of  the  com- 
pany instead.  May,  1776,  2d  Lieut,  of  Capt.  Elijah  Abel's  company 
in  the  State  Troops;  advanced  to  ist  Lieut,  in  June  following;  Oc- 
tober, 1776,  ist  Lieut,  in  one  of  the  eight  battalions  then  being 
raised;  Lieut.,  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia, 
stationed  at  Fairfield,  April  8-22,  1777;  Lieut.,  Capt.  Gershom 
Morehouse's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign, 
Oct.  5-27,  1777,  and  at  this  time  was  appointed  Commissary  of  the 
Fourth  Militia  Brigade,  with  instructions  "  to  provide  tents,  pots, 
and  kettles,  canteens  and  other  utensils  for  the  militia  of  this  state 
now  in  service  with  the  army  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Putnam," 
and  in  December  following  was  detailed  to  collect  and  forward 
clothing  for  the  Continental  troops.  He  held  the  rank  of  captain 
in  1780. 

He  served  on  the  following  committees  under  appointment  by 
the  town:  April  2,  1777,  to  provide  for  soldiers'  families;  Nov. 
20,  1780,  to  ascertain  the  number  of  Redding  soldiers  then  in  serv- 
ice; Nov.  27,  1780*  to  ascertain  the  length  of  time  served  by  the 
soldiers.  In  1778,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  selectmen  of  the  town. 

He  was  justice  of  the  peace  in  1775-6-7,  and  represented  the 
town  in  the  General  Assembly  at  the  sessions  of  May-October, 
1774,  the  regular  and  special  sessions  of  March,  May,  July,  Octo- 
ber, and  December,  1775;  October,  1779;  January,  April,  May, 
1780;  October,  1781;  at  the  May  session  of  1775  was  appointed 
one  of  the  auditors  of  the  colony  accounts,  and  in  October,  1779, 
was  made  a  member  of  the  committee  appointed  to  estimate  the 
losses  of  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield  in  the  British  invasion  of  the 
preceding  July. 

William  Hawley  married  Lydia  Nash  July  12,  1758,  in  Greens 
Farms  (Westport,  Conn.).  Died  Feb.  16,  1797,  and  is  buried  in 
the  Old  Burying  Ground. 


139 

HENDRICK,  JOSIAH. 

Private,  4th2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  under  Col.  Zebulon 
Butler;  enlisted  Jan.  I,  1781,  for  3  years.  Received  £30  bounty. 

HENDRIX,  OBED. 

He  was  a  signer  of  the  Redding  Loyalist  Association  —  the  only 
other  record  of  him  is  found  in  the  subjoined  proceedings: 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  [County]  Capt  of  a 
Military  Company  in  the  4th  Regt  of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fairfield  County  that  pursuant  to  Orders 
from  Jonth  Dimon,  Lieu1  Col°  of  said  Regt,  he  did  on  the  7th  Day  of 
July  A  D :  1779,  duly,  warn  &  order  Obed  Hendrix,  of  said  Redding, 
a  Soldier  in  &  Belonging  to  said  Company,  to  March  to  Fairfield,  to 
join  the  Troops  there  Collecting  to  Oppose  the  Enemy  &  that  said  Hen- 
drix Entirely  Neglected  &  Refused  to  March  As  aforesaid,  nor  made 
Satisfaction  for  said  Neglect  as  P  Writ  on  file  Dated  Decemr  Ist  A  D : 
1779  — 

The  Def1  was  Called  at  this  Court,  &  made  Default  of  Appearance, 
&  Thereupon  this  Court  having  Considered  that  the  Def1  shall  pay  as 
a  fine  to  the  Treaiurer  of  the  Town  of  Redding  the  fum  of  One  Hun- 
dred &  Twenty  Pounds  Lawful  Money  for  his  said  Neglect,  &  Alfo  Cost 
of  Prosecution  taxed  at  Twenty  Five  Pounds  io/  —  &  that  Excn 
be  Grand :  &c. 

Excn  Grand  jany  6th;  1780." 

"  On  the  Petition  of  Obed  Hendrix  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  County 
Shewing  to  this  Court,  that  the  Govr  &  Company  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut brought  their  action  against  him  the  Petit1",  before  the  Adj'd 
County  Court  held  at  Fairfield  in  &  for  Fairfield  County  on  the  ist 
Tuesday  of  Jany  1780  —  for  Military  Delinquency  in  that  the  Petitr 
Neglecting  &  Refusing  to  March  to  Fairfield  aforesd  in  the  month  of 
July  last,  to  Repel  the  Invafions  of  the  Enemy  &  that  said  Court,  did 
render  Judgment  on  Default  of  Appearance  for  the  Sum  of  £120  Lawful 
Money  Delinquency  in  the  Month  of  July  1779,  &  £25  —  io  Cost  of 
Suit.  &  theron  Granted  Execution  —  all  which  may  appear  by  the  files 
&  Records  of  said  County  Court,  &  the  Petit1"  further  shews  that  the 
weather  at  the  sitting  of  said  Jany  Adj'd  County  Court  was  fo  severe 
and  Stormy,  &  the  Road  filled  with  Snow,  that  it  was  Altogether  Im- 
pofsible  for  the  Petitr  to  get  to  said  Court  to  Answer  to  said  action  — 
by  means  Whereof  said  Judgment  was  Rendered  against  him  —  Praying 
that  this  Court  would  Order  &  Decree  that  the  aforesaid  Judgment 
be  set  aside,  and  Excn  be  Called  in,  &  said  Action  be  Revived  &  the 
Petit1"  put  in  the  fame  Situation,  as  before  said  Judgment  was  Ren- 
dered against  him  in  said  Judgment  as  aforesaid.  As  P  Petition  on 
file  Dated  March  8th,  1780. 

Thereupon  this  Court  having  Considered  the  Matter  Alledged  in 
said  Petition,  Are  of  Opinion  that  the  same  be  granted  to  the  Peti- 
tioner —  And  this  Court  do  Order  &  Decree  that  said  Judgment,  prayed 


140 

for  as  aforesaid,  be  set  aside  &  Excn  Called  in,  &  a  New  Trial  Granted 
on  faid  Action,  &  the  Petit1"  be  put  in  the  fame  Situation  as  before  said 
Judgment  was  Rendered  against  him  As  aforesaid." 

"  Fairfield  Adj'd  C.  Ct.     Ist  Tuesday  of  March,  1780. 

Whereas  John  Gray  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  County  Capt  of  a  Mili- 
tary Company  in  the  4th  Regt  of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connecticut, 
did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fairfield  County  Court  y4  pursuant  to  Orders 
Recd  from  Jonth  Dimon  Esqr  Lieu1  Col°  of  said  Regt,  he  did  on  the 
7th  Day  of  July  A  D :  1779,  duly,  warn  &  Order  Obed  Hendrix  of  said 
Redding,  a  Soldier  in  &  Belonging  to  said  Company  to  March  to  Fair- 
field,  to  join  the  Troops  there  Collecting  to  oppose  the  Enemy,  &  that 
said  Hendrix  Entirely  Neglected  &  Refused  to  March  As  aforesaid,. 
Nor  since  made  Satisfaction  for  said  Neglect  As  P  Writ  on  file  Dated 
Decr  Ist  1779  P  Adjournm1 

The  Def*  was  Called  at  this  Court  &  Appeared  to  make  Answer  to 
said  Information,  &  Thereupon  this  Court,  having  Considered  thereof 
Are  of  Opinion  that  the  Def1  is  Not  Guilty  of  the  Matters  Alledged  in 
said  Information  &  this  Court  do  Order  that  the  Def1  be  Difmifsed 
without  paying  Cost 

Order  Given  for  Cost." 

HILL,  ANDREW. 

Chosen  an  Inspector  of  Provisions  March  13,  1780. 

HILL.  EZEKIEL. 

A  signer  of  the  Redding  Loyalist  Association.  In  1780  he 
procured  recruits  for  the  Continental  Army.  Feb.  5,  1781,  the 
town  refused  to  abate  the  assessment  levied  upon  him  for  the 
purpose  of  hiring  men  to  serve  in  the  Conn.  Line  of  the  Conti- 
nental Army,  as  he  had  a  son  or  son-in-law  gone  over  to  the  enemy. 

HILLARD,  ISAAC.     [Billiard.] 

Appointed  Lieut,  in  the  ist  Battalion  of  State  Troops  under  Col. 
Samuel  Whiting,  Capt.  Daniel  Hecock's  company,  to  serve  from 
November,  1776,  to  March,  1777. 

Aug.  9,  1779,  the  town  appointed  him  a  member  of  a  committee 
to  provide  winter  clothing  for  the  Continental  soldiers  then  serving 
in  the  army. 

HILLIARD,  THURSTON. 

Enlisted  for  the  war  Feb.  2,  1778,  as  private  in  Capt.  James  Hor- 
ton's  company,  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin's  Regt.  of  Artificers, 
Mass.  Line.  Wounded  at  Yorktown  by  splintered  timber.  He  re- 
received  a  pension  of  $20  per  annum  as  a  private  of  the  Revolution- 
ary Army,  his  pension  commenced  Sept.  4,  1794,  and  was  continued 


under  the  law  of  April  20,  1796.     His  name  appears  in  the  pension 
list  of  1813,  with  the  same  allowance,  and  he  is  recorded  as  an 
invalid  pensioner  under  the  Act  of   1818.     So  far  as  traced  his 
pension  does  not  appear  ever  to  have  been  increased. 
Married  Eunice  Jackson  June  i,  1790. 

MILLIARD,  WILLIAM. 

Served  15  days  as  private  in  the  company  of  Capt.  James  Booth, 
4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  April,  1777.  Enlisted  for  the  war  as  private 
in  Capt.  Jarius  Wilcox's  company,  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin's 
Regt.  of  Artificers,  Mass.  Line,  Nov.  25,  1777. 

HOPKINS,  HENRY. 

Henry  Hopkins,  "  a  stranger,"  was  married  to  Mary  Burr  of 
Redding  July  26,  1763,  and  was  probably  a  resident  of  the  town 
from  that  period.  He  served  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  under 
Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  in  the 
Northern  Department,  and  was  discharged  Nov.  28,  1775 ;  re- 
^ntered  the  service  March  10,  1777,  as  corporal  in  the  company 
of  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford,  5th1  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  under 
Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley,  was  reduced  Sept.  i,  1779,  and  discharged 
March  10,  1780.  He  re-enlisted  Jan.  i,  1781,  for  3  years,  receiving 
£30  bounty,  and  on  June  i,  1782,  was  a  member  of  Capt.  Kimber- 
ley's  company  in  the  2d2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line.  He  con- 
tinued in  service  in  Col.  Heman  Swift's  Regt.,  final  formation, 
June-December,  1783,  his  time  expiring  Jan.  i,  1784.  He  is  known 
to  have  served  during  every  year  of  the  war.  His  family  received 
supplies  from  the  town  during  his  absence  in  the  army. 

HOYT,  WILLIAM.     [Hoit,  Hait.] 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777.  Private,  Capt.  Jarius  Wilcox's 
company,  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin's  Regt.  of  Artificers,  Mass. 
Line;  enlisted  Jan.  i,  1778,  for  3  years. 

HULL,  AARON. 

March  13,  1780,  he  was  chosen  an  Inspector  of  Provisions. 

HULL,  EZRA.     1756-1837. 

Born  in  Redding  April  5,  1756. 

Served  4  months  from  November,  1775,  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's 
company,  Col.  David  Waterbury's  Regt,  at  New  York  in  1776; 
3  months  from  March,  1776,  in  Col.  Gold  Selleck  Silliman's  Regt. 
in  the  company  of  Capt.  Thorp;  August,  1776,  one  month  in  the 


142 

same  company  and  regiment  under  Lt.-Col.  John  Chandler ;  March, 
1777,  one  month  under  Capt.  Bates;  served  in  the  Danbury  Raid, 
April,  1777;  private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia, 
Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777;  June,  1780,  one  month  under 
Capt.  Olmsted;  and  9  months  from  February,  1781,  under  Capt. 
Nash,  probably  in  coast-guard  service. 

Married  Molly  Bradley  June  10,  1810. 

Pensioned  under  the  Act  of  June  7,  1832,  as  private  Conn. 
Continental  Line;  application  dated  Jan.  7,  1834;  name  placed  on 
pension  roll  March  25,  1833;  pension  dated  from  March  4,  1831; 
annual  allowance  $40;  received  $120  as  first  payment. 

Died  March  5,  1837.  Buried  at  Umpawaug.  His  widow  re- 
ceived a  pension. 

HULL,  JAMES. 

Private,  Capt.  Gershom  Morehouse's  company,  4th  Conn. 
Militia,  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-23,  1777. 

HULL,  JOHN. 

Sept.  1 8,  1777,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  committee 
chosen  by  the  town  to  procure  articles  requested  by  the  Governor 
and  Council  of  Safety,  and  served  as  a  private  in  the  company 
of  Capt.  John  Gray,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign, 
Oct.  5-19,  1777.  He  was  in  team  service  all  the  winter  and  spring 
of  1778-79,  while  the  troops  were  at  Redding,  carrying  provisions 
under  contract,  part  of  the  time  by  the  day  and  part  by  the  job. 

HULL,  JOHN,  JR.     1759-1838. 

Son  of  the  preceding. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-19,  1777. 

Married  Sarah  Fairchild  Feb.  22,  1782. 

Died  April  7,  1838.     Buried  in  Sanfordtown  Cemetery. 

HULL,  LIEUT.  NEHEMIAH. 

Sept.  1 8,  1777,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  committee 
chosen  to  procure  articles  requested  by  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  Safety.  He  served  as  Lieut,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  John 
Gray,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-19,  1777, 
and  was  formally  appointed  to  that  office  by  the  Legislature  of 
January,  1778:  "This  Assembly  do  establish  Nehemiah  Hull  to 
be  Lieutenant  of  the  9th  company  or  trainband  of  the  4th  regiment 
in  this  State."  Dec.  22,  1777,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  provide  for  the  families  of  soldiers  in  the  field, 


143 

and  was  reappointed  on  this  committee  Dec.  21,  1779.  Dec.  17, 
1778,  he  was  specially  deputed  to  provide  for  Nathan  Coley's 
family,  was  relieved  from  this  duty  Jan.  21,  1780,  and  reappointed 
Jan.  29,  1781.  March  28,  1781,  he  was  detailed  (with  Capt.  More- 
house)  to  collect  the  tents  belonging  to  the  town. 

HULL,  SETH.     1733-1795- 

A  member  of  the  Reading  Loyalist  Association.  Dec.  26,  1781, 
the  town  appointed  him  to  take  care  of  the  family  of  Jabez  Wil- 
liams, a  soldier. 

Died  April  5,  1795.     Buried  in  Christ  Church  Yard. 

HULL,  THEOPHILUS.     1725-1785. 

Sept.  1 8,  1777,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  procure  articles  requested  by  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  Safety. 

Died  Dec.  5,  1785.     Buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

HULL,  TIMOTHY.     1726-1800. 
Born  Sept.  4,  1726. 

March  17,  1780,  he  was  chosen  an  Inspector  of  Provisions. 
Married  Anne  Gray  Dec.  14,  1/49. 
Died  April  29,  1800.     Buried  in  Sanfordtown  Cemetery. 

HULL,  ZALMOX.     1759-1839. 

Served  as  private  in  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn. 
Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-15,*  1777-  Said  to  have 
been  a  teamster. 

Died  May  18,  1839.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

HURLBERT,  SHADRACK.     1758-1850. 

Born  May  10,  1758,  at  Farmington,  Conn.  His  father  was  a 
physician,  which  profession,  it  is  stated,  Shadrack  was  unwilling 
to  adopt,  preferring  to  learn  the  business  of  boot  and  shoe  making, 
though  in  later  life  he  gained  a  knowledge  of  medicine  and  became 
a  skillful  physician.  He  lived  at  the  home  of  his  father  until  the 
beginning  of  the  Revolution,  and  in  1776  enlisted  as  fifer  in  the 
Third  Battalion  of  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  commanded  by  Col. 
Comfort  Sage,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Edward  Eells,  and  served 
six  months  (in  which  period  the  regiment  served  on  Long  Island, 
was  in  the  retreat  from  New  York,  September  i5th,  and  fought  at 
White  Plains  October  28th),  after  which  he  returned  to  his  home 
and  remained  there  till  the  following  year,  when  he  was  drafted 
into  the  regiment  of  militia  commanded  by  Col.  Thomas  Belden, 


144 

and  served  as  fifer  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Jared  Shepherd  from 
March  28  to  May  19,  1777,  at  Peekskill,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  man  of 
delicate  constitution,  and  playing  the  fife  caused  hemorrhages  of 
the  lungs,  compelling  him  to  obtain  a  discharge  from  the  service. 
But,  according  to  the  records,  he  re-enlisted  as  private  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Artificers  commanded  by  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin  and 
served  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Gamaliel  Painter  from  Sept.  23, 
1777,  to  Aug.  7,  1779.  During  a  portion  of  his  military  service 
he  was  stationed  at  Danbury  and  Redding,  Conn.  In  the  latter 
town  he  married  Huldah  Whitlock,  and  was  a  resident  there  about 
three  years,  when  he  removed  to  Richmond,  Mass.,  and  in  No- 
vember, 1789,  joined  the  Society  of  Shakers,  of  which  he  was 
a  prominent  and  highly-respected  member  till  his  death.  "  He  is 
said  to  have  been  a  very  intelligent,  polite,  and  worthy  man,  and 
his  society  was  sought  by  many  distinguished  persons,  who  con- 
sidered themselves  honored  by  his  acquaintance." 

An  officer  of  the  Society  of  Shakers  who  had  lived  in  the  same 
family  with  Dr.  Hurlbert  for  thirty  years  gives  this  testimonial  of 
his  character  and  worth : 

"  He  was  esteemed  by  all  our  Society,  and  by  all  his  acquaintance 
out  of  the  Society,  as  a  very  remarkable  man.  He  was  bound  to  excel 
in  everything  he  undertook :  his  musical  talents  were  of  the  highest 
order;  as  a  physician  there  was  no  one  that  stood  higher  in  public 
estimation ;  as  a  shoemaker,  there  was  no  one  in  this  section  who 
could  bear  any  comparison ;  as  a  gardener,  he  had  not  an  equal :  every- 
thing was  kept  in  the  most  perfect  order;  neatness  stamped  everything 
he  turned  his  hand  to."  [Hulbert  Gen.] 

Dr.  Hurlbert  died  Feb.  12,  1850. 

Lineage :     Dr.  Josiah4,  Jonathan3,  Samuel2,  Thomas  Hurlbert1, 

1635- 

HUTENAC,  FRANCIS. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Campaign;  dis- 
charged Nov.  28,  1775. 

This  man  was  married  to  Naomi  Stuart,  in  the  parish  of  Wilton, 
Nov.  20-5,  1776,  and  is  believed  to  have'  resided  for  a  time  in 
Redding. 

JACKSON,  DAVID. 

April  2,  1777,  David  Jackson  was  made  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  hire  soldiers  for  the  Continental  Army;  on 
May  5th  following  was  chosen  an  additional  selectman,  and  was 
afterwards  appointed  on  the  following  committees  :  Dec.  22,  1 777, 


145 

to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families ;  March  23,  1/78,  to  procure  cloth- 
ing for  the  army,  etc.;  June  23,  1780,  to  hire  nine  soldiers  for  the 
Conn.  Line  of  the  Continental  Army;  Nov.  20,  1780,  to  make  a 
rate  bill  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  provisions  for  the  Conn.  Line 
of  the  Continental  Army;  Nov.  28,  1780,  and  Feb.  28,  1782,  to 
class  inhabitants  for  recruiting  purposes. 

JACKSON,  JOSEPH. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Campaign;  dis- 
charged Oct.  26,  1775.  Also  served  in  the  levies  of  the  8th  Regt. 
Conn.  Continental  Line  from  July  5  to  Dec.  3,  1780. 

Joseph  Jackson,  Jr.  (probably  this  soldier),  and  Mary  Edmond 
were  married  in  Redding  Sept.  30,  1779. 

JACKSON,  STEPHEN.     1751-1841. 

Dec.  21,  1779,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families. 

Member  of  the  General  Assembly  October,  1798;  May-October, 
1799;  May,  1800. 

Died  May  8,  1841.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

JENKINS,  CALVIN. 

Enlisted  from  Redding  April  i,  1778,  as  a  musician  in  the  com- 
pany of  Capt.  Eli  Catlin,  5th1  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col. 
Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding,  and  served. to  the  end  of  the  war. 
He  was  a  pensioner  under  the  Act  of  March  18,  1818,  and  was 
granted  an  annual  allowance  of  $96  under  an  application  dated 
April  8,  1818.  His  name  was  placed  on  the  pension  roll  November 
nth  of  that  year,  and  he  received  $1,527.16  in  pension  payments 
up  to  1834.  The  Calvin  Jenkins  buried  at  Lonetown  appears  to 
be  this  pensioner. 

r 

KING,  DAVID. 

In  1780  he  obtained  recruits  for  the  Continental  Army.  See 
vote  of  the  town,  Jan.  8,  1781. 

LINES,  BENJAMIN. 

A  lad  of  1 6  years,  captured  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April,  1777, 
but  released  by  Gov.  Tryon  on  account  of  his  youth. 

LINES,  DAVID. 

Served  in  the  militia  regiment  commanded  by  Lt.-Col.  Samuel 
Canfield  at  West  Point,  September,  1781. 


146 

LINES,  JOHN. 

Received  £30  bounty,  1781-82.  Probably  served  in  2d  Regt. 
Conn.  Continental  Line.  A  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to 
supply  his  family  in  1781. 

LITTLE,  WILLIAM. 

William  Little,  steward  to  Gen.  Parsons,  was  married  in  Red- 
ding to  Phebe  Marchant  May  4,  1779.  Probably  of  Preston,  Conn., 
with  the  following  record :  Served  3  days  in  the  Lexington 
Alarm,  under  Col.  Israel  Putnam,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Zebulon 
Ingalls.  Private,  ist1  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Jedediah 
Huntington  commanding,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  James  Eldridge ; 
enlisted  Feb.  i,  1777,  for  3  years;  discharged  Feb.  i,  1780.  Pen- 
sioner under  the  Act  of  1818. 

*. 
LYON,  DANIEL. 

Dec.  21,  1779,  he  was  appointed  on  the  committee  to  take  care 
of  soldiers'  families,  but  was  released  Jan.  28,  1780. 

MAIN,  EZEKIEL. 

Served  in  the  short  levies  of  the  9th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental 
Line,  under  Col.  S.  B.  Webb,  from  Aug.  26  to  Dec.  16,  1779. 

MALLERY,  DANIEL.     1725-1805. 

April  2,  1777,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  committee 
chosen  to  hire  soldiers  for  the  Continental  Army,  and  of  the  com- 
mittee chosen  to  take  care  of  the  families  of  soldiers  in  the  service. 
Sept.  18,  1777,  on  the  committee  appointed  to  procure  articles  re- 
quested by  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety. 

Daniel  Mallery,  Jr.,  evidently  his  son,  is  probably  the  man  who 
served  in  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the 
Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-14,  1777,  and  in  the  regiment  commanded 
by  Lt.-Col.  Samuel  Canfield,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  David  Leaven- 
worth,  guarding  Horseneck  in  1779. 

Mr.  Mallery  was  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Redding. 

Died  July  18,  1805.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

MALLERY,  JOHN. 

A  member  of  the  Reading  Loyalist  Association. 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  Capt.  of  a  Military  Company  in  the  4th  Regt 
of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fair- 
field  County  Court,  that  pursuant  to  Orders  Recd  from  Jonth  Dimon 
Esqr  Lieu*  Col°  of  said  Rgt  he  did  on  the  7th  Day  of  July  1779,  duly, 


147 

warn  &  order  John  Mallery  of  Redding  in  said  County  a  Soldier  in 
&  Belonging  to  said  Company  to  March  to  Fairfield  to  join  the  Troops 
there  Collecting  to  oppose  the  Enemy :  &  that  said  Mallery  did  Entirely 
Neglect  &  refuse  to  March  As  aforesaid,  Nor  hath  since  made  Satis- 
faction for  said  Neglect  —  As  P  Writ  on  file  Dated  Decr  Ist  A.  D:  1779 

P  Adjournment 

The  Def1  Appeared  at  this  Court  to  Answer  to  said  Information, 
&  being  put  to  plead,  pled  Not  Guilty,  &  for  trial  put  himself  on  the 
Court.  Thereupon  this  Court  having  Considered  ye  matters  Alledged 
in  said  Information  are  of  Opinion  that  the  Def1  is  Not  Guilty;  &  this 
Court  do  Order  that  the  Def1  be  Difmifsed  without  paying  Cost  of 
Profecution  which  is  taxed  at  Two  Pounds  4/ —  Lawful  Money  in 
Silver  at  6/8  P  Ounce 

Order  Given  for  Cost." 

MALLERY,  SAMUEL. 

April  16,  1781,  appointed  on  a  Committee  of  Correspondence 
relative  to  monetary  and  other  public  affairs. 

MAXROW.  WILLIAM. 

A  signer  of  the  Reading  Loyalist  Association.  In  1780  he  pro- 
cured recruits  for  the  Continental  Army.  See  vote  of  the  town, 
Jan.  8,  1781. 

MARCHAXT,  CHAUNCEY. 

Served  in  the  7th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  under  Col.  Chas.  Webb,  in 
the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Ebenezer  Hill,  in  the  Northern 
Campaign,  from  July  19  to  Dec.  23,  1775,  and  in  Col.  Philip  B. 
Bradley's  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  Capt.  Elijah  Abel's 
company,  from  Aug.  13  to  Dec.  25,  1776. 

A  weaver  by  trade.     Died  Aug.  25,  1804. 

MARCHANT,  GURDOX. 

Enlisted  March  10,  1778,  for  the  term  ox  3  years  as  private  in 
Capt.  James  Horton's  company,  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin's  Regt. 
of  Artificers,  Mass.  Line. 

MARCHANT,  JOEL.     1762-1844. 

Born  in  Redding  May  i,  1762. 

Served  in  Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley's  Battalion,  Wadsworth's 
Brigade;  enlisted  July  3,  1776,  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Ft. 
Washington  Xovember  i6th.  Served  6  months  as  a  private  in 
1778,  regiment  and  commander  not  stated,  and  2  months  more  in 
the  same  year  under  Capt.  Lewis  Goodsell,  probably  in  the  4th 
Conn.  Militia.  In  1779  he  served  3  months  in  the  company  of 


148 

Capt.  John  Gray,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  and  was  wounded  in  action  at 
Norwalk  July  nth.  In  the  same  year  he  served  2  months  under 
Capt.  Jesse  Bell  in  a  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Bezaleel  Beebe, 
and  in  1780  served  nine  months  in  the  regiment  which  Col.  Beebe 
commanded  at  Horseneck. 

Joel  Merchant  applied  for  a  pension  Aug.  i,  1832,  as  a  private 
of  Conn.  Militia,  receiving  an  annual  allowance  of  $35.  His  name 
was  placed  on  the  roll  Aug.  13,  1833,  the  pension  dating  from 
March  4,  1831.  He  died  March  24,  1844,  and  was  buried  at  Um- 
pawaug.  His  widow,  Molly  (Sanford)  Merchant,  to  whom  he 
was  married  March  17,  1790,  received  a  pension  for  his  se'rvices 
till  her  death  in  1858. 

MARCHANT,  JOHN. 

Served  in  the  7th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  under  Col.  Chas.  Webb, 
in  the  company  of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Hill,  from  July  10  to  Dec.  23, 
1775.  Corporal,  Capt.  Elijah  Abel's  company,  Col.  Philip  B. 
Bradley's  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  June  21 -Dec.  25,  1776. 

MEEKER,  DANIEL. 

Taken  prisoner  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April  26,  1777,  and  car- 
ried to  New  York.  Is  believed  to  have  spent  eighteen  months  in 
the  Sugar  House. 

MEEKER,  SETH.     1749-1829. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the 
Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-15,*  1777.  Dec.  22,  1777,  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  committee  to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families. 

Married,  ist,  Elinor  Bixby,  March  14,  1770;  2d,  Millicent  Davis, 
March  14,  1775. 

Died  Feb.  5,  1829.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

MEEKER,  STEPHEN. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Department;  dis- 
charged Oct.  15,  1775.  Enlisted  for  the  war  as  private  in  the  5th1 
Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding, 
in  the  company  of  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford ;  omitted  [from  the 
rolls?]  May,  1778;  appears  in  a  list  of  soldiers  "discharged  or 
deserted"  previous  to  January,  1780;  reappears  in  a  list  of  soldiers 
belonging  to  the  company  of  Capt.  Parsons  of  the  2dx  Regt.  Conn. 
Continental  Line,  commanded  by  Col.  Zebulon  Butler;  was  a 
sergeant  in  this  regiment  in  June,  1780,  when  it  was  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Chas.  Webb:  the  2d  and  gih  were  consolidated 


149 

in  1781  and  designated  the  3d,  under  command  of  Col.  Samuel  B. 
Webb,  and  Stephen  Meeker  was  enrolled  from  this  regiment  into 
the  Light  Infantry  Battalion  commanded  by  the  Marquis  de 
Lafayette,  in  Capt.  Roger  Welles'  company,  was  promoted  corporal 
Feb.  i,  1781,  sergeant  July  i,  reduced  Aug.  15,  1781.  His  com- 
pany formed  part  of  the  column  of  Maj.  Gimat,  which  stormed 
a  redoubt  at  Yorktown.  His  service  evidently  terminated  in  the 
3d  Regt.  under  Capt.  Roger  Welles. 

Dec.  17,  1778,  the  town  appointed  Elijah  Burr  to  take  care  of 
Stephen  Meeker's  family. 

MERRIT,  EBENEZER.     1762-1826. 

Enlisted  in  team  service  in  October,  1778,  and  served  4  months 
under  Capt.  Samuel  Taylor;  re-enlisted  April  i,  1779,  for  one 
year,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Eliphalet  Thorp,  Col.  Samuel  Whit- 
ing's regiment  (4th  Conn.  Militia?)  served  till  October,  1779,  then 
hired  a  substitute  for  the  balance  of  the  term,  and  enlisted  for  8 
months  in  the  8th1  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Isaac  Sher- 
man commanding,  and  served  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Paul  Brig- 
ham  from  Oct.  i,  1779,  to  Jan.  15,  1780. 

MONROE,  DANIEL. 

Private,  5th1  Regt.  Conri.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Philip  B. 
Bradley  commanding,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Samuel  Hait ;  en- 
listed Feb.  2,  1777,  for  the  war.  Also  mentioned  as  serving  in 
Capt.  Taylor's  Light  Infantry  company,  2d  Regt.  Conn.  Conti- 
nental Line,  Col.  Heman  Swift  commanding,  in  February,  1783. 
The  date  of  his  enlistment  is  given  in  the  company  roll  as  Dec. 
30,  1776. 

MOREHOUSE,  AARON.     1759-1833. 

Born  in  Redding  June  2,  1759.  Son  of  Capt.  Gershom  More- 
house. 

Nov.  i,  1775,  at  the  age  of  16,  he  enlisted  as  fifer  in  Capt.  Zal- 
mon  Read's  company,  and  served  5  months  in  the  regiment  which 
went  to  .New  York  in  1776  under  Col.  David  Waterbury.  June  i, 
1776,  he  again  enlisted  as  fifer  under  Capt.  Read,  in  the  ist  Bat- 
talion, Wadsworth's  Brigade,  Col.  Gold  Selleck  Silliman  com- 
manding; and  was  at  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  in  the  fighting  at 
Flatbush  and  Red  Hook,  Aug.  27th;  was  also  with  his  regiment 
when  it  covered  the  retreat  from  New  York  City  September  i5th. 
He  afterward  served  six  terms  as  private  in  the  4th  Conn.  Militia : 
three  weeks  in  April,  1777,  and  six  weeks  in  September  of  that 
year,  under  Capt.  John  Gray;  marched  in  his  father's  company  in 


ISO 

the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30;  served  three  weeks  in  August, 
1779,  three  in  September,  1781,  and  three  more  at  a  time  not 
stated,  all  under  Capt.  Gray. 

He  married  Urana  Starr  Aug.  19,  1787.  "His  home  was  in 
Redding  Center,  where  he  cultivated  a  large  farm,  and  for  thirty 
years  was  a  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Fairfield  County,  an  office  of  much 
note,  responsibility,  and  honor  in  his  day."  [Morehouse  Family 
Hist.]  Removing  to  Newtown,  Conn.,  he  became  a  pensioner 
under  the  Act  of  June  7,  1832,  receiving  an  annual  allowance  of 
$54.89  under  an  application  dated  July  27,  1832;  his  name  was 
placed  on  the  roll  Sept.  14,  1833,  the  pension  dating  from  March  4, 
1831 ;  and  he  received  $137.23  to  the  date  of  his  death,  Dec.  3,  1833. 
He  is  buried  in  Christ  Church  Yard. 

MOREHOUSE,  BILLY. 

Son  of  Capt.  Gershom  Morehouse. 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  Capt.  of  a  Military  Company  in  the  4th  Rgt 
of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fair- 
field  County  Court,  that  pursuant  to  Orders  from  Jonth  Dimon  Lieut 
Col°  of  said  Regt  he  did  on  the  7th  Day  of  July  A  D :  1779,  duly  warn 
&  Order  Billy  Morehoufe  of  Redding  in  said  County,  a  Soldier  in  & 
Belonging  to  said  Company  to  March  to  Fairfield,  to  Join  the  Troops 
there  Collecting  to  Oppose  the  Enemy,  and  that  said  Morehouse  En- 
tirely, Neglected  &  Refused  to  March  as  aforesaid,  Nor  made  Satis- 
faction for  said  Neglect  As  Pr  Writ  on  file,  Dated  Octr  i6th  A  D 

1779  — 

The  Deft  Appeared  at  this  Court,  to  Answer  to  faid  Information 
and  Plead  Not  Guilty  to  the  Court  thereto,  Thereupon  the  Court  having 
Considered  the  Evidence,  are  of  Opinion  that  the  Def1  is  Not  Guilty 
of  the  Matters  Alledged  Against  him  in  said  Information,  &  this  Court, 
do  order  that  he  be  Difmifsd  without  paying  Cost,  which  is  allowed  to 

be  £38:  8:  Lawful  Money  — 

Order  Given  for  Cost." 

MOREHOUSE,  ELIJAH. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the 
Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-16,  1777. 

MOREHOUSE,  CAPT.  GERSHOM.      1727-1805. 

Born  Nov.  25,  1727. 

Gershom  Morehouse  enlisted  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution  as  a 
private,  was  appointed  ist  Lieut,  of  Capt.  Jesse  Bell's  company, 
ist  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  1776,  under  Col.  Samuel 
Whiting,  and  was  afterward  promoted  to  a  captaincy.  He  com- 
manded a  company  at  the  Battle  of  White  Plains,  Oct.  28,  1776, 


and  after  the  action  went  out  under  a  flag  of  truce  to  confer  with 
his  son-in-law  —  a  captain  in  the  British  troops.  Later  he  was  a 
captain  in  the  4th  Conn.  Militia,  and  led  a  company  of  fourteen 
men  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-31,  1777.  He  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  Dec.  22,  1777;  Nov.  20, 
1780,  was  appointed  on  the  committee  chosen  to  ascertain  the 
number  of  soldiers  the  town  had  in  the  Continental  Army;  March 
28,  1781,  to  collect  the  tents  belonging  to  the  town. 

Married  Anne  Sanford  Jan.  18,  1749. 

Died  Jan.  22,  1805.     Buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

MORGAN,  JOSEPH. 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  Capt.  of  a  Military  Company  in  the  4th  Regt. 
of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fair- 
field  County  Court,  that  pursuant  to  Orders  from  Jonathan  Dimon 
Esqr  Lieu4  Col°  of  said  Regt.  he  did  on  the  7th  Day  of  July  1779  —  duly 
warn  &  order  Joseph  Morgan  of  Redding  in  said  County,  a  Soldier  in 
&  Belonging  to  said  Company  to  March  to  Fairfield,  to  join  the  troops 
there  Collecting  to  Oppose  the  Enemy,  &  that  said  Morgan,  Entirely, 
Neglected  &  Refused  to  March  As  aforesaid,  Nor  hath  since  made 
Satisfaction  for  said  Neglect  —  As  P  Writ  on  file  Dated  Decer  Ist,  1779 
P  Adjournment 

The  Def1  Appeared  at  this  Court  to  Answer  to  sd  Information  & 
Thereupon  this  Court  having  taken  the  Matter  into  Consideration  & 
Considered  thereof,  Are  of  Opinion  &  do  Order  that  the  Def1  be  Dif- 
mifsed  without  paying  Cost,  which  is  taxed  at  Two  pounds  9/6  Lawful 
Money  in  Silver  @  6/8  P  Ounce. 

Order  Given  for  Cost." 

OLMSTEAD,  ISAAC. 

This  soldier  seems  to  have  belonged  outside  of  Redding  at  the 
beginning  of  his  military  career.  His  first  enlistment  was  perhaps 
from  Ridgefield  as  a  private  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Gamaliel 
Northrup,  ist  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  commanded  by 
Col.  Gold  Selleck  Silliman,  1776.  He  was  married  in  Redding 
April  15,  1779,  to  Mary  Persons,  probably  being  in  service  with 
Putnam's  division  at  that  time,  though  no  record  is  found.  In  the 
formation  of  1781-83  he  was  a  corporal  in  the  2d  Regt.  Conn. 
Continental  Line,  Col.  Heman  Swift  commanding,  in  the  company 
of  Capt.  Thaddeus  Weed,  receiving  £30  bounty  for  this  enlistment. 
From  this  regiment  he  was  enrolled  in  the  Light  Infantry  Battalion 
commanded  by  Col.  Alexander  Hamilton,  serving  under  Capt. 
Thaddeus  Weed.  A  pay  receipt  for  $730/90  given  at  this  time 
probably  represents  his  monthly  pay  as  corporal.  He  continued 
in  the  2d  Regt.  in  the  formation  of  January-June,  1783,  as  corporal 


152 

in  the  company  of  Capt.  Elijah  Chapman,  and  was  in  the  final 
formation  of  1783,  under  Col.  Swift,  also  as  corporal,  his  time  ex- 
piring in  May,  1784,  though  he  was  probably  mustered  out  in  De- 
cember, 1783.  He  is  credited  to  both  Redding  and  Norwalk. 

Dec.  26,  1781,  David  Sanford  was  appointed  to  take  care  of 
Isaac  Olmsted's  family. 

OSBORN,  DAVID. 

Sergeant,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the 
Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777. 

PARSONS,  ABRAHAM.     1764-1852. 

Born  Feb.  20,  1764.     Son  of  Timothy  Parsons. 

Enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  Army  at  an  early  age;  served  at 
White  Plains,  and  met  Gen.  Washington  face  to  face  while  doing 
guard  duty  at  that  place ;  served  also  in  other  parts  of  Westchester 
Co.,  N.  Y. ;  was  in  the  fight  at  Horseneck,  under  command  of 
Gen.  Putnam,  Feb.  25,  1779;  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Chas.  Smith's 
company,  Waterbury's  State  Brigade,  in  1781.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  gave  up  his  gun,  taking  a  receipt  for  it;  this  receipt  he 
preserved,. and  it  was  afterward  accepted  as  proof  of  service,  for 
which  he  was  granted  an  annual  pension  of  $40,  under  the  Act  of 
June  7,  1832,  as  a  private  in  the  Continental  service.  The  pension 
dated  from  March  4,  1831 ;  his  name  was  placed  on  the  roll  March 
25,  1833,  and  he  received  $120  up  to  1834.  Part  of  his  allowance 
was  paid  in  Mexican  dollars. 

Mr.  Parsons  married  Urana  Starr  at  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  March 
25,  1792.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation;  the  house  in  which  he 
lived  stood  in  a  depression  at  the  top  of  Gallows  Hill.  "  He  was 
a  well-educated  man,  clear  in  his  memory  to  the  day  of  his  death. 
His  powers  of  description  were  very  marked.  He  could  repeat 
pages  of  Joel  Barlow's  poems  and  Paradise  Lost.  He  was  full  of 
anecdotes  of  Gen.  Putnam  and  other  commanding  officers  who  were 
at  camp,"  and  often  described  vividly  his  experiences  there,  detail- 
ing the  terrible  privations  endured  by  the  troops  in  the  winter  of 
1778-9,  and  pointed  out  to  his  descendants  the  scenes  of  noteworthy 
incidents  which  occurred  at  the  camp-ground.  Mr.  Parsons  lived 
to  the  ripe  age  of  88  years  and  25  days,  and  was  revered  by  his 
descendants  as  "  a  good  and  wise  man  in  his  day  and  time." 

Died  at  Ridgefield,  Conn.,  March  16,  1852.  Is  supposed  to  have 
been  buried  at  Umpawaug,  but  the  grave  is  not  marked. 

PARSONS,  DANIEL. 

Born  March  30,  1762.     Son  of  Timothy  Parsons. 

Daniel  Parsons  served  five  terms  as  a  private  soldier  in  the 


153 

Revolution;  In  1778  one  month  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Meigs;  another  month,  probably  in  the  same  year,  where  or  with 
whom  not  stated;  from  July,  1779,  two  months  in  Capt.  Daniel 
Godfrey's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  under  Lt.-Col.  Jonathan 
Dimon,  and  was  engaged  in  the  action  at  Norwalk  July  nth; 
from  September,  1780,  two  months,  place  and  commander  not 
stated;  and  two  months  in  1781  under  Capt.  Godfrey,  probably  in 
the  4th  Conn.  Militia. 

He  lived  on  the  western  slope  of  Gallows  Hill.  The  house  is 
still  standing,  though  in  a  ruinous  condition.  He  removed  to 
Veteran,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  applied  for  a  pension  Sept.  4,  1832: 
was  granted  an  annual  allowance  of  $26.66,  and  received  $53.32 
up  to  1834. 

Married  Eunice  Bartram  March  15,  1783. 

PARSONS,  JONATHAN.     1751-1818.     [Persons.] 

Believed  to  be  the  "  John  Parsons  "  of  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's 
company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the 
Northern  Department;  discharged  Nov.  28,  1775.  Enlisted  April 
10,  1777,  for  the  war;  taken  prisoner  July  2,  1777;  returned  Au- 
gust, 1778;  discharged  April  4,  1781. 

Tradition  says  that  Jonathan  Persons,  who  is  buried  at  Um- 
pawaug,  was  once  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  British.  Died 
Sept.  7,  1818. 

PARSONS,  TIMOTHY.     1732-1810. 

Born  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  Nov.  7,  1732. 

Taken  prisoner  by  the  British  April  26,  1777,  in  the  Danbury 
Raid,  and  carried  to  New  York.  When  captured,  a  fine  musket, 
which  he  highly  valued,  was  taken  from  him  by  a  British  grena- 
dier, who  broke  it  in  pieces  on  the  stones,  declaring  it  should  waste 
no  more  rebel  bullets.  [Todd's  Hist,  of  Redding.] 

In  the  possession  of  one  of  Timothy  Parsons'  descendants  is 
a  leaf  taken  from  an  old  account  book,  on  which  he  had  recorded 
several  remarkable  occurrences  of  his  life.  Here,  in  quaint  phrase- 
ology and  curious  orthography,  he  briefly  relates  his  painful  ex- 
perience of  capture  and  captivity : 

Eapel  26  Day  the  yeier   1777  than 
I  was  taken  By  the  ragalor  light 
Hoas  and  Card  to  DanBary  form 
DanBary  to  Richfeald  form  thance 
A  Bourd  of  the  Chip  to  Coumpo 
Thance  Carad  to  new  Youk  their 
opout  in  prisen  the  fust  Day  of 
May  than  Capt  Uial  the  n  Day 
of  Joun  oupon  exstemes  Chart 
Lounance    and    underwent    much  — 


154 

[The  last  line  illegible.] 
Married  Elizabeth  Couch  March  9,  1756. 
Died  Nov.  30,  1810.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 
Lineage :     Thomas    Person3,     Stephen    Person,    Jr.2,     Stephen 
Pierson1.     [Pierson  Gen.] 

PATCHEN,  ANDREW. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Department ;  dis- 
charged Nov.  28,  1775. 

PATCHEN,  EBENEZER. 

Private,  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn. 
Continental  Line,  1777-81,  Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding; 
enlisted  Jan.  n,  1777,  for  3  years;  discharged  Jan.  4,  1780.  Is 
said  to  have  fought  in  the  action  at  Ridgefield  April  27,  1777,  and 
to  have  saved  the  life  of  Arnold  by  presenting  his  musket  at  the 
breast  of  a  British  soldier  who  was  about  to  fire  upon  the  general. 

PATCHEN,  JACOB. 

Born  Nov.  n,  1759. 

Taken  prisoner  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April  26,  1777,  but  escaped. 
Enlisted  Jan.  i,  1781,  for  3  years  as  a  private  in  the  4th2  Regt. 
Conn.  Continental  Line,  under  Col.  Zebulon  Bntler,  and  served  in 
the  company  of  Capt.  Asa  Lay  from  March  i,  1781,  to  Dec.  31, 
1783,  receiving  £30  bounty.  He  became  a  pensioner  under  the 
Act  of  March  18,  1818,  as  a  private  of  the  Continental  Line,  with 
an  annual  allowance  of  $96;  his  name  was  placed  on  the  roll  April 
30,  1819,  his  pension  dating  from  March  25,  1818,  at  which  time 
he  was  a  resident  of  Redding,  and  he  received  $1,530.83  in  pension 
payments  up  to  1834. 

Married  Abigail  Meeker  Feb.  26,  1787. 

PATCHEN,  MARTIN. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
Col.  David  Waterbury  commanding,  in  the  Northern  Department; 
discharged  Nov.  28,  1775.  March  n,  1776,  he  enlisted  as  seaman 
on  the  brig  "  Defence,"  Capt.  Seth  Harding  commander,  and  was 
in  service  as  late  as  November  i'5th  of  that  year. 

PERRY,  GEORGE. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Department;  dis- 
charged Nov.  28,  1775.  Sergeant,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company, 


4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-24,  1777.  Nov. 
28,  1780,  he  was  appointed  to  receive  the  flour  collected  by  the 
town  for  the  use  of  the  army,  etc.,  and  was  sworn  to  a  faithful 
discharge  of  his  trust. 

PERRY,  ISAAC. 

To  Daniel  Perry  Junr  Bill  —  viz  — 

For  sundry  Expences  in  getting  Home  from  the  Northern  camp, 
Isaac  Perry  a  Lame  Soldier  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  Company  Col. 
Waterbury's  Regt.  viz 

To  my  Time  and  Trouble  2/ —     To  Horse  Hire  15  miles  2/6 

Dan1   Perry  —  Junr 
Reading,  May  2d,  1776  — 

Then  the  above  Subscriber  Daniel  Perry  Junr,  made  Oath  to  the 
Truth  of  the  above  Ace*  — 

before  me  Wm  Hawley,  Justice  of  Peace. 

June  i,  1776.  — Receivd  an  Order  on  Colony  Treasurer  for  Four 
Shillings  and  Six  pence  in  full  of  the  above  Ace*  for  Daniel  Perry 
Junr 

P.  SETH  SANFORD. 

PLATT,  ISAAC.     1754-1824. 

This  name  is  on  the  roll  of  the  Reading  Loyalist  Association. 
Dec.  25,  1777,  Isaac  Platt  enlisted  for  the  war  in  the  regiment  of 
Artificers  commanded  by  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan  Baldwin,  in  the  com- 
pany of  Capt.  James  Horton,  but  served  under  Capt.  Elijah 
Painter  to  June  9,  1783.  He  was  a  pensioner  under  the  Act  of 
March  18,  1818,  making  application  April  7th  of  that  year,  from 
Redding.  His  name  was  placed  on  the  roll  Nov.  n,  1818,  allow- 
ance $96,  receiving  $627.30  up  to  the  date  of  his  death,  Oct.  19, 
1824. 

PLATT,  JONAS. 

Taken  prisoner  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April  26,  1777,  and  car- 
ried to  New  York;  private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn. 
Militia,  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct,  5-30,  1777;  was  a  recruit  for  the 
Continental  Army  in  1780,  to  serve  3  months,  for  which  he  re- 
ceived a  bounty. 

PLATT,  JOSEPH. 

This  name  also  appears  on  the  list  of  signers  of  the  Reading 
Loyalist  Association.  Joseph  Platt  enlisted  (probably  from  Dan- 
bury),  as  a  private,  June  2,  1777,  for  8  months,  in  the  5th  Regt. 
Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding,  and 
served  7  months  7  days  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford; 
discharged  Jan.  9,  1778. 


1 56 

Married  Lydia  Wilson  at  Ridgefield,  Conn.,  Jan.  7,  1774,  and 
died  Feb.  19,  1792.  His  widow  applied  for  a  pension  Jan.  31, 
1837,  being  then  83  years  old  and  living  at  Danbury.  The  pension 
was  granted. 

PLATT,  SAMUEL. 

Enlisted  as  private  Dec.  24,  1777,  for  3  years,  in  Lt.-Col.  Jedu- 
than  Baldwin's  Regt.  of  Artificers,  Mass.  Line,  and  served  in  the 
company  commanded  by  Capt.  James  Horton.  Was  a  pensioner 
under  the  Act  of  1818. 

PLATT,  ZEBULON. 

A  signer  of  the  Reading  Loyalist  Association. 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  County  Capt.  of  a 
.Military  Company  in  the  4th  Regt  of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connec- 
ticut, did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fairfield  County  Court,  that  pursuant 
to  Orders  from  the  Col°  Comd*  of  ye  Brigade,  he  the  said  Capt  did 
on  the  3,  Day  of  June  1779,  Duly,  warn  &  Order  his  said  Company 
to  Muster  &  March  to  the  North  River  in  the  State  of  New  York,  & 
Join  the  troops  there  afsembled,  to  Defend  Against  the  Enemies  of 
the  United  States  of  America  &  that  Zebulon  Platt  of  s.  Redding,  a 
Soldier  in  &  Belonging  to  said  Company,  Utterly  Neglected  &  Re- 
fused to  Muster  &  March  As  aforesaid,  Nor  made  Satisfaction  for 
said  Neglect  As  P  Writ  on  file  Dated  August  27th  A  D:  1779 — P 
Continuance 

The  Def1  Appeared  to  answer  to  said  Complaint,  at  this  Court,  & 
plead  Not  Guilty,  &  Thereupon  this  Court  having  Considered  ye  Evi- 
dence Are  of  Opinion  that  the  Def*  is  Not  Guilty  of  the  Matters 
Alledged  against  him  in  said  Information  &  this  Court  do  order  yl  he 
pay  Cost  of  Profecution  Allowed  to  be  £30  Lawful  Money 

Cost  paid  to  John  Davenport,  Atty  " 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  County  Capt  of  a 
Military  Company  in  the  4th  Regt  of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connec- 
ticut—  did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fairfield  County  Court,  that  pur- 
suant to  Orders  Received  from  Jonth  Dimon  Esq  Lieu4  Col°  of  said 
Regt  he  did  on  the  7th  Day  of  July  A  D:  1779,  duly,  warn  &  order 
Zebulon  Platt  of  said  Redding,  a  Soldier  in  &  Belonging  to  said 
Company,  to  March  to  Fairfield,  to  Join  the  Troops  there  Collecting 
to  Oppose  the  Enemy,  &  that  said  Platt  Entirely  Neglected  &  Refused 
to  March  as  Aforesaid,  nor  made  Satisfaction  for  said  Neglect  as  pr 
Writ  on  file  Dated  Octobr  :6th  A  D:  1779  — 

The  Def1  Appeared  at  this  Court  to  Answer  to  said  Information 
&  plead  Not  Guilty  thereto.  Thereupon  this  Court  having  Examined 
the  Evidence  &  Considered  thereof  Are  of  Opinion  that  the  Def1  is 
Not  Guilty  of  the  Matters  Alledged  Against  [him]  in  said  Informa- 
tion, &  the  Court  have  further  Considered  that  Def1  be  Difmifsed 
without  paying  Cost  which  is  taxt  at  £38 :  — 18  — 

Order  Given  for  Cost." 


157 

Feb.  19,  1781,  the  town  doubled  the  assessment  levied  on 
Zebulon  Platt  for  the  purpose  of  hiring  a  man  to  serve  in  the  Conn. 
Line  of  the  Continental  Army,  he  having  refused  to  pay  his  pro- 
portion. 

PLUMMER,  DAVID. 

Received  £30  bounty,  1781-82,  enlisting  from  Redding. 

READ,  HEZEKIAH. 

April  2  and  Dec.  22,  1777,  Hezekiah  Read  was  appointed  on  the 
committee  to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families.  Dec.  22..  1780,  he  was 
appointed  on  the  committee  chosen  to  hire  nine  soldiers  for  the 
Conn.  Line  of  the  Continental  Army. 

READ,  COL.  JOHN.     1701-1786. 

Col.  John  Read,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  William  Read, 
was  the  proprietor  of  the  Read  Manor,  in  Lonetown.  He  repre- 
sented Redding  in  the  General  Assembly  of  October,  1767;  May, 
1769;  October,  1770;  May,  1771-72-73;  and  was  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  the  latter  year.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution  he 
was  colonel  of  the  4th  Conn.  Militia,  which  he  had  commanded 
since  1757,  but  being  too  old  for  active  service,  —  he  was  then  74 
years  of  age,  —  resigned  his  command  and  retired  to  civil  life. 
He  continued,  however,  to  render  such  service  as  he  was  capable 
of  during  the  war.  The  Legislature  of  March,  1775,  appointed 
him  a  member  of  a  committee  delegated  to  ascertain  whether  per- 
sons holding  commissions  under  the  state  had  been  active  in  pro- 
moting the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  towns  of  Ridgefield  and 
Newtown,  disapproving  and  protesting  against  the  measures  of 
the  Continental  Congress.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  from 
1775  to  1780  (perhaps  longer),  and  in  this  capacity  was  called  on 
to  institute  legal  proceedings  against  the  property  of  the  resident 
Tories. 

Died  Oct.  30,  1786.     Buried  in  the  Read  Burying  Ground. 

READ,  CAPT.  ZALMON.     1739-1801. 

Son  of  Col.  John  Read. 

In  May,  1775,  Zalmon  Read  was  commissioned  captain  of  the 
loth  company  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  under  Col.  David  Waterbury, 
and  served  through  the  Campaign  in  the  Northern  Department, 
being  discharged  Nov.  28,  1775.  In  the  following  year  he  marched 
to  the  defense  of  Xew  York  as  captain  of  the  2d  company  ist 
Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  Conn  State  Troops,  Col.  Gold 
Selleck  Silliman  commanding,  and  led  his  men  in  the  retreat  from 
New  York.  In  March,  1777,  he  is  found  in  command  of  a  com- 


1 58 

pany  of  the  4th  Conn.  Militia  (in  which  he  had  been  captain 
previous  to  entering  the  State  Troops),  which  was  then  stationed 
at  Fairfield,  and  with  which  he  served  in  the  Danbury  Raid  in 
April  following,  some  of  his  men  being  captured  by  the  enemy. 
In  October,  1777,  he  appears  to  have  rendered  special  service  in 
the  Fishkill  Campaign,  mention  being  made  of  "  Zalmon  Read  and 
2  subalterns  "  on  duty  October  9-17.  No  further  service  in  the 
field  is  recorded.  He  was  a  member  of  the  following  committees 
under  appointment  by  the  town:  April  2,  1777,  to  hire  soldiers 
for  the  Continental  Army;  Sept.  18,  1777,  to  procure  articles  re- 
quested by  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety;  Dec.  22,  1777, 
member  Committee  of  Inspection;  March  23,  1778,  to  provide 
clothing  for  the  army;  May  8,  1778,  to  provide  shirts,  shoes,  and 
stockings  for  the  soldiers  in  the  Continental  Army;  Dec.  17,  1778, 
to  provide  for  Jeremiah  Ryan's  family. 

Died  Jan.  15,  1801.     Buried  in  the  Read  Burying  Ground. 

READ,  ENSIGN  ZALMON.     1759-1846. 

Born  in  Redding  April  28,  1759.     Son  of  Capt.  Zalmon  Read. 

This  is  probably  the  Zalmon  Read  who  served  as  private  in 
Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Fishkill 
Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777.  He  continued  in  the  service,  in  what 
organization  is  unknown.  Jan.  i,  1781,  he  received  a  commission 
from  Gen.  Parsons  as  ensign,  serving  in  the  company  of  Capt. 
Lemuel  Clift,  in  the  ist  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  1781-83, 
under  Col.  John  Durkee.  He  enlisted  for  two  years,  and  was 
stationed  in  the  Highlands  till  the  disbandment  of  the  army.  Be- 
fore Washington's  departure  for  Yorktown  the  garrison  of  the 
Highlands  marched  to  Peekskill  under  Gen.  Heath,  and  a  recon- 
noisance  was  made  toward  New  York,  resulting  in  a  skirmish  at 
Kingsbridge  July  3,  1781,  at  which  Ensign  Read  was  present.  He 
also  participated  in  the  day  of  rejoicing  which  was  observed  in 
the  American  camp  after  the  news  of  Cornwallis'  surrender  was 
received.  Afterward  he  went  home  on  furlough,  and  was  dis- 
charged by  the  special  order  of  Gen.  Washington  dismissing  all 
officers  on  furlough,  Nov.  4,  1783.  He  was  pensioned  under  the 
Act  of  June  7,  1832,  as  ensign  in  the  Continental  Line,  his  annual 
allowance,  $240,  dating  from  March  4,  1831.  His  name  was  placed 
on  the  roll  Feb.  19,  1834,  and  he  received  pension  payments  amount- 
ing to  $725,  due  on  the  latter  date. 

Mr.  Read  was  made  a  freeman  of  Redding  April  7,  1783. 

Married,  ist,  Huldah  Gray,  November,  1780;  2d,  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Bassett  of  Great' Hill.  Derby.  October.  1811. 

Died  Oct.  3,  1846.     Buried  in  the  Read  Burying  Ground. 


'59 

REMONG,  SAMUEL. 

This  name  seems  to  be  a  corruption  of  "  Raymond."  and  is 
sometimes  so  spelled  in  the  records.  The  soldier's  record  appears 
to  be  as  follows :  Served  in  Capt.  Samuel  Keeler's  company, 
Bradley's  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  at  New  York  in  1776, 
and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Ft.  Washington  November  i6th.  En- 
listed April  i,  1778,  as  private  in  the  company  of  Capt.  John  Mills, 
2d  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  1777-81,  and  the  record  states 
that  he  deserted  Feb.  18,  1778  (?),  rejoined,  and  again  deserted 
Oct.  15,  1779,  and  was  mustered  out  in  May,  1780.  Sept.  8,  1780. 
he  joined  the  Corps  of  Sappers  and  Miners,  was  presumably  at 
Yorktown  September-October,  1781,  and  in  the  service  in  1782-83. 

Dec.  17,  1778,  Wm.  Hawley  was  appointed  to  supply  Remong's 
family.  Feb.  28,  1782,  Andrew  Fairchild  was  appointed  for  this 
purpose. 

Married  Philena  Bates  Nov.  3,  1777. 

ROBBINS,  EPHRAIM. 

Ephraim  Robbins  was  of  Killingly,  and  married  Sarah  Couch 
of  Redding  June  20,  1769.  His  name  is  on  the  roll  of  the  Reading 
Loyalist  Association,  but  he  seems  to  have  joined  the  patriots  at 
an  early  period  of  the  war.  Sept.  18,  1777,  he  was  made  a  member 
of  the  committee  chosen  to  obtain  articles  requested  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  of  Safety.  He  served  in  the  company  of  Capt. 
Gershom  Morehouse  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-24,  1777. 
March  23,  1778,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  procure  clothing  for  the  army,  etc.  He  removed  from 
the  town  after  this  date,  but  returned  before  March  13,  1780,  on 
which  date  he  was  appointed  an  Inspector  of  Provisions,  and  on 
the  23d  of  June  following  was  made  a  member  of  the  committee 
appointed  to  hire  nine  soldiers  for  the  Conn.  Line  of  the  Conti- 
nental Army.  April  6,  1781,  he  was  appointed  collector  of  a  tax 
levied  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  clcching  for  the  soldiers. 
In  1780  he  held  the  office  of  Deputy  Sheriff.  He  is  said  to  have 
again  removed  from  the  town  —  to  what  place  is  not  known. 

ROGERS,  JAMES,  ESQ.     1741-1823. 

James  Rogers  was  a  worthy  and  respected  citizen  of  Redding, 
who  represented  the  town  in  the  General  Assembly  at  the  sessions 
of  May-October,  1773,  and  January,  1774.  He  was  a  selectman 
of  the  town  at  the  time  of  the  Danbury  Raid,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  British  April  26,  1777,  and  carried  to  New  York, 
where  he  shared  with  his  fellow-prisoners  the  privations  of  the 
Sugar  House.  In  April,  1780,  the  Assembly  appointed  him  a 


i6o 

Purchasing  Commissary,  to  procure  fresh  and  salted  beef,  pork, 
flour,  and  other  articles,  for  the  use  of  the  army,  within  the  limits 
of  the  towns  of  Danbury,  Ridgeneld,  Redding,  and  Newtown. 
April  16,  1781,  the  town  appointed  him  on  a  committee  of  corre- 
spondence relative  to  monetary  and  other  affairs.  Feb.  28,  1782, 
he  was  placed  on  a  committee  to  class  the  inhabitants  for  recruiting 
purposes,  and  also  on  another  to  vindicate  claims  to  Continental 
soldiers  and  State  Troops.  After  the  war  he  represented  the 
town  in  the  General  Assembly  of  May-October,  1796. 

Married  Eleanor  Wakeman  March  30,  1762. 

Died  April  19,  1823.     Buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

ROGERS,  ENSIGN  JOSEPH. 

Born  Oct.  31,  1762.     Son  of  Esq.  James  Rogers. 

Jan.  4,  1781,  he  was  appointed  ensign,  and  served  in  the  2d2 
Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Heman  Swift  commanding,  in 
the  company  of  Capt.  Stephen  Billings,  and  was  in  service  from  the 
spring  of  1781  to  the  end  of  the  war,  retiring  with  the  army  in 
June,  1783.  He  was  pensioned  under  the  Act  of  1818,  making 
application  April  nth  of  that  year,  being  then  a  resident  of  Put- 
nam Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Conn.  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati. 

RUMSEY,  JEREMIAH. 

Enlisted  from  Redding  April  26,  1782,  probably  for  8  months, 
and  served  in  the  2d2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line  to  Jan.  i,  1783. 

RUMSEY,  JOHN. 

Private,  7th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Col.  Chas.  Webb  commanding, 
in  the  company  of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Hill,  July  ID-Dec.  23,  1775; 
enlisted  May  21,  1777,  for  the  war,  in  the  7th  Regt.  Conn.  Conti- 
nental Line,  under  Col.  Heman  Swift,  as  private  in  the  company 
of  Capt.  Albert  Chapman;  credited  to  Ridgeneld;  served  in  the  2d 
Regt.  in  the  formation  of  1783,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Wm. 
Richards;  credited  to  Redding.  He  was  a  pensioner  under  the 
Act  of  1818,  residing  in  Vermont. 

RUMSEY,  NATHAN. 

Served  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  under  Col.  David  Water- 
bury,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Zalmon  Read,  in  the  Northern  De- 
partment; discharged  Nov.  28,  1775.  Enlisted  from  Redding  May 
21,  1777,  for  the  war,  in  the  7th  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line, 
Col.  Heman  Swift  commanding,  as  private  in  the  company  of 
Capt.  Albert  Chapman;  deserted  Aug.  I,  1780;  rejoined. 


RYAN,  JEREMIAH. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Department;  dis- 
charged Nov.  28,  1775.  Enlisted  April  16,  1776,  as  private  in  the 
company  of  Capt.  Albert  Chapman,  Col.  Samuel  Elmore's  Regt., 
and  served  at  Ft.  Schuyler;  April  29,  1777,  enlisted  in  the  2d  Regt. 
Continental  Artillery,  under  Col.  John  Lamb,  and  served  as  bom- 
bardier into  1780-81.  Appears  to  have  been  known  to  his  com- 
rades as  "  Green  Jimmy." 

SALMON,  ASAHEL.     1757-1848. 

Enlisted  in  April,  1776,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Steenrod,  Col. 
McDougal's  Regt.  of  N.  Y.  troops,  and  served  10  months.  During 
the  latter  part  of  this  term  he  served  in  Col.  Chas.  Webb's  Regt. 
(igth  Continental),  under  Capt.  Joseph  Hoyt,  and  may  be  the 
man  who  served  in  Maj.  John  Skinner's  Regt.  of  Light  Horse 
(militia)  at  N.  Y.  June  n-Aug.  3,  1776.  He  next  served  as 
private  in  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the 
Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777.  Was  present  at  the  execution 
of  Jones  and  Smith  on  Gallows  Hill  Feb.  16,  1779,  at  that  time 
holding  the  rank  of  sergeant,  probably  in  Capt.  Gray's  company. 
In  April,  1780,  he  enlisted  as  corporal  in  Col.  Bezaleel  Beebe's 
Regt.  of  State  Troops,  and  served  9  months  in  the  company  of 
Capt.  Jesse  Bell.  This  regiment  was  stationed  at  Horseneck  and 
frequently  skirmished  with  the  enemy  on  the  Westchester  front. 
From  February,  1781,  to  June  10,  1783,  he  served  in  the  4th2  Regt. 
Conn.  Continental  Line,  commanded  by  Col.  Zebulon  Butler,  in 
the  company  of  Capt.  David  Starr.  He  continued  in  the  militia 
service  after  the  war,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Lt.-Col.  Com- 
mandant of  the  4th  Conn.  Militia,  holding  this  office  from  1806  to 
1811,  being  the  last  Revolutionary  soldier  who  commanded  the 
regiment. 

Col.  Salmon  was  a  pensioner  under  the  Act  of  1818,  having  an 
annual  allowance  of  $96  from  the  date  of  application,  April  8, 
1818,  his  name  being  placed  on  the  pension  roll  Nov.  I3th  of  that 
year,  and  he  received  $1,527.96  in  pension  payments  up  to  1834.  He 
was  a  tanner  and  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  became  a  freeman  of 
Redding  in  April  1789. 

Married  Anne  Wood  Sept.  5,  1786.  Is  supposed  to  be  buried 
beside  his  wife  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground,  but  the  grave  is  un- 
marked. 

SALMON,  GERSHOM. 

'  Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Department;  dis- 


l62 

charged  Nov.  28,  1775.     Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th 
Conn.  Militia,  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-14,*  1/77. 

SALMON,  REUBEN. 

Private  Reuben  Salmon  of  the  ist  Battalion  (Col.  G.  S.  Silli- 
man's),  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  missing  in  the  retreat  from  New 
York,  Sept.  15,  1776,  is  believed  to  have  been  a  Redding  soldier. 

SANFORD,  AAROX. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Department;  dis- 
charged Nov.  28,  1775.  Served  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Gershom 
Morehouse,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-12, 
1777- 

SANFORD,  DANIEL. 

It  has  been  found  impossible  to  identify  this  man.  A  Daniel 
Sanford  was  ensign  in  Capt.  Daniel  Hickok's  company,  in  the  ist 
Battalion  of  State  Troops,  commanded  by  Col.  Samuel  Whiting 
at  Westchester  in  the  early  spring  of  1777.  He  next  appears  as 
ensign  in  the  4th  Conn.  Militia,  under  Col.  Whiting,  stationed  at 
Fairfield  and  Stratford,  March  7-22,  1777.  A  Daniel  Sanford  was 
captured  in  the  Danbury  Raid  in  April,  1777,  and  carried  to  New 
York.  One  Daniel  Sanford  was  elected  deputy  for  Redding  to 
the  General  Assembly  of  May,  1777,  perhaps  the  same  who  died 
July  5,  1777,  and  is  buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground.  Possibly 
the  officer  was  made  prisoner,  and  may  have  been  brother  of 
Jeremiah,  also  a  prisoner,  and  both  perhaps  sons  of  the  deputy. 
Xo  clue  has  been  found  to  this  mystery. 

SANFORD,  DAVID.     1739-1787. 

In  June,  1776,  David  Sanford  was  a  private  in  the  4th  Conn. 
Militia,  commanded  by  Lt.-Col.  Abraham  Gould,  in  the  company  of 
Lieut.  John  Davis,  and  went  to  the  defense  of  Xew  York  in  that 
year,  probably  in  one  of  the  battalions  of  State  Troops,  was  present 
at  White  Plains  October  28th.  and  was  brought  home  sick  No- 
vember ist,  having  served  4  months.  He  served  one  week  in  the 
Danbury  Raid,  and  took  part  in  the  action  at  Ridgefield  April  27, 
1777,  and  in  the  pursuit  to  the  enemy's  shipping.  In  September 
and  October  of  the  same  year  he  was  for  some  six  weeks  in  the 
command  of  Capt.  John  Gray,  serving  October  5th  to  3Oth  in  the 
Fishkill  Campaign,  at  Fishkill,  Peekskill,  and  Redhook.  In  April, 
1779,  he  was  again  in  the  service  for  two  weeks  and  four  days 
under  Lt.-Col.  Jonathan  Dimon  of  the  4th,  at  what  point  is  not 


163 

stated;  in  July,  1779,  he  served  one  week  in  the  alarms  at  Fairfield 
and  Norwalk ;  was  in  service  on  alarms  two  terms  of  two  days  each 
during  the  summer,  and  in  September  following  was  in  service  14 
days  at  Gregory's  Parish,  N.  Y.  During  the  war  he*  was  a  member 
of  several  committees  appointed  by  the  town:  Sept.  18,  1777,  to 
procure  articles  requested  by  the  Governor  and-  Council  of  Safety ; 
Dec.  22,  1777,  to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families;  March  13,  1780, 
Inspector  of  Provisions;  Dec.  21,  1781,  to  care  for  Isaac  Olmsted's 
family. 

Married  Abiah Nov.  20-22,  1769. 

Died  June  15,  1787.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

His  widow,  who  was  living  in  Redding  in  1840,  aged  95,  received 
a  pension  for  his  services  under  an  application  dated  Dec.  19,  1836. 

SAXFORD,  EBENEZER.     1761-1847. 

In  1779  Ebenezer  Sanford  served  2  months  under  Capt.  John 
Gray  and  Lieut.  Taylor  in  the  coast-guard  at  Greens  Farms,  as 
substitute  for  Elias  Sanford.  During  the  same  year  he  served 
twice  on  alarms  at  Xorwalk  and  once  at  Gregory's  Parish,  N.  Y. 
In  1780  he  enlisted  from  Redding  in  Col.  Bezaleel  Beebe's  Regt.  of 
State  Troops,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Jesse  Bell,  and  served  9 
months  at  Horseneck,  the  regiment  being  engaged  in  frequent 
skirmishes  with  the  British  on  the  lines  where  its  duty  was  per- 
formed. 

Mr.  Sanford  was  pensioned  under  the  Act  of  June  7,  1832, 
his  annual  pension  of  $30.55  dating  from  March  4,  1831,  the  first 
payment,  $91.65,  being  remitted  to  him  March  18.  1834,  when  his 
name  was  placed  on  the  roll. 

SAX  FORD,  ELNATHAX. 

December,  1778,  he  was  appointed  to  provide  for  the  family 
of  Henry  Hopkins,  a  soldier. 

SAX  FORD,  CAPT.  EZEKIEL.     1743-1808. 

In  May,  1775,  Ezekiel  Sanford  was  commissioned  lieutenant 
in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  Col.  David 
Waterbtiry  commanding,  and  served  in  the  Northern  Department, 
being  discharged  Nov.  28,  1775.  He  again  served  as  first  lieuten- 
ant under  Capt.  Zalmon  Read,  in  the  ist  Battalion,  Wadsworth's 
Brigade  (Col.  G.  S.  Silliman),  in  the  operations  around  New  York 
in  1776.  Jan.  i,  1/77,  he  was  commissioned  captain  in  the  5th1 
Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding, 
and  served  till  March  17,  1778,  when  he  resigned.  In  January, 
1780,  he  was  appointed  captain  in  the  second  regiment  raised  for 


164 

the  defense  of  the  state,  but  declined.  He  was  appointed  on 
several  town  committees:  Jan.  28,  1780,  to  take  care  of  soldiers' 
families;  June  23,  1780,  to  hire  nine  soldiers  for  the  Conn.  Line 
of  the  Continental  Army;  Nov.  20,  1780,  to  ascertain  the  number 
of  soldiers  the  town  then  had  in  the  Continental  Army;  March  28, 
1781,  to  vindicate  claims  to  Continental  soldiers;  April  6,  1781,  to 
supply  John  Lines'  family;  Feb.  28,  1782,  to  vindicate  claims  to 
Continental  soldiers  and  State  Troops.  He  was  a  pensioner  under 
the  law  of  June  7,  1785,  as  a  captain  of  the  Revolutionary  Army, 
his  pension  dating  from  March  4,  1789.  His  annual  allowance 
was  $60,  under  which  he  received  payments  amounting  to  $1,140 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Ten  years  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution  Capt.  Sanford 
brought  suit  against  the  town  of  Redding  relative  to  certain  claims 
made  by  himself  as  a  pensioner.  This  suit  evidently  caused  con- 
siderable local  excitement,  which  lasted  for  nearly  a  twelvemonth. 
The  nature  of  these  claims  is  unknown  —  the  captain's  pension 
papers,  which  might  furnish  some  clue  to  the  mystery,  were  prob- 
ably destroyed  during  the  British  invasion  of  Washington  in  1814; 
the  court  records  of  the  period  have  disappeared,  and  the  town 
records,  which  are  here  given  in  full,  contain  no  hint  of  the  special 
reasons  for  which  this  action  was  brought. 

"March  n,  1793. —  The  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Redding  are 
hereby  warned  to  meet  at  the  meeting  houfe  in  sd  Redding  on  tuefday 
the  26th  day  of  inftant  March  at  two  o'clock  —  afternoon  in  order  to 
collect  the  minds  of  the  people  in  refpect  to  an  inveftigation  of  the 
claims  of  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford  as  a  Pensioner.  Also  regarding  a 
suit  brought  by  sd  Sanford  against  the  town  of  Redding  in  the  County 
Court  of  Fairfield  County." 

"  March  26,  1793  —  Mefsrs  Wm  Heron,  Jas  Rogers,  David  Jackson, 
Aaron  Barlow  and  Peter  Sanford  chofen  a  Comtee  to  investigate  the 
propriety  of  the  claims  of  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford  as  a  pensioner,  and 
report  make  to  this  or  some  future  Town  meeting. 

Mefsrs  Thaddeus  Benedict,  Wm  Heron,  Lem11  Sanford,  S.  Sam 
Smith,  and  James  Rogers  appointed  a  Comtee  to  correfpond  with  the 
Towns  in  this  County  refpecting  the  claims  of  the  pentioners  in  sd 
Towns  and  proceed  as  they  may  think  proper." 

"Dec.  II,  1793.  —  S.  Sam  Smith  appointed  agent  to  defend  the  town 
in  the  suit  against  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford." 

"Feb.  3,  1794.  —  Voted  that  Wm  Hawley  be  appointed  with  S.  Sam 
Smith  agent  to  carry  on  the  Lawfuit  against  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford, 
and  that  they  may  settle  with  said  Sanford,  if  it  can  be  done  without 
any  further  lost  to  the  Town." 

Capt.  Sanford  died  March  8,  1808.     Buried  at  Umpawaug. 


1 65 

SANFORD,  EZRA. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  Fish- 
kill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-24,  1777. 

SANFORD,  HEZEKIAH. 

April  2,  1777,  appointed  on  the  committee  to  take  care  of 
soldiers'  families;  June  23,  1780,  on  committee  to  hire  nine  soldiers 
for  the  Conn.  Line  of  the  Continental  Army ;  Representative  for 
Redding  in  the  General  Assembly  at  the  sessions  of  October,  1771 ; 
May-October,  1772;  May,  1773.  1776,  1784,  1785;  October,  1786; 
and  continuously  from  May,  1791,  to  October.  1793,  inclusive  — 
fourteen  sessions. 

SANFORD,  JAMES.     1758-1842. 

Born  in  Redding  Nov.  13,  1758.  Son  of  John  Sanford,  the 
Loyalist. 

Before  attaining  his  majority  James  Sanford,  it  is  said,  ran 
away  from  home  and  joined  Putnam's  division,  then  in  camp  at 
Redding,  enlisting  Dec.  I,  1778,  as  a  teamster,  and  served  four 
months  under  Capt.  John  Drew,  conductor  of  teams  for  Poor's 
Brigade.  He  was  present  at  the  execution  of  Jones  and  Smith 
on  Gallows  Hill  Feb.  16,  1779.  He  continued  in  team  service  till 
April,  1779,  when  he  went  with  the  army  to  New  York  state,  and 
was  in  team  service  with  his  team  at  a  camp  called  "  Soldier's 
Fortune,"  near  Fishkill,  serving  under  Capt.  Simson,  conductor 
of  teams  or  baggage  wagons,  till  June  5,  1779,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged. The  total  period  of  this  service  was  6  months  and  5 
days.  In  September,  1779,  he  was  drafted  by  Capt.  John  Gray 
for  a  tour  of  duty  in  Greens  Farms,  guarding  the  shore  of  Long 
Island  Sound,  under  Capt.  Thomas  Nash  of  Fairfield,  and  remained 
in  service  there  till  November  i6th  —  a  term  of  six  weeks  in  all. 
During  this  period  a  skirmish  took  place  between  some  British 
vessels  and  the  forces  under  Capt.  Nash,  in  which  that  officer 
narrowly  escaped  death  by  a  cannon  shot.  August,  1780;  he  was 
again  drafted  to  guard  the  fort  at  Black  Rock,  where  he  served 
two  months  under  Capt.  Isaac  Jarvis,  commandant  of  the  fort, 
and  Lieut.  John  Odell.  He  was  again  drafted  by  Capt.  John  Gray, 
in  May,  1781,  to  guard  the  shore  of  Long  Island  Sound,  and  served 
two  months,  part  of  the  time  under  Capt.  John  Gray  and  part 
under  Capt.  Thomas  Nash.  Throughout  his  entire  service  he 
remained  a  private  soldier. 

Mr.  Sanford  was  a  lifelong  resident  of  Redding,  where  he  was 
much  respected,  and  was  familiarly  known  to  the  inhabitants  as 
"  Squire  Jim."  He  was  a  pensioner  in  1840. 


1 65 

SANFORD,  JEREMIAH.     1758-1777. 

Son  of  Daniel  Sanford.  Taken  prisoner  by  the  British  in  the 
Danbury  Raid,  April,  1777,  and  carried  to  New  York,  where  the 
young  man  died  in  captivity  June  28th  following,  in  the  iQth  year 
of  his  age. 

SANFORD,  LEMUEL.     1740-1803. 

Lemuel  Sanford  was  among  the  foremost  of  the  Revolutionary 
patriots  of  Redding.  He  early  became  prominent  in  the  political 
life  of  his  town  and  colony,  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  acceptably  filled  every  position  of  honor  and 
trust  to  which  their  suffrages  advanced  him.  His  popularity  is 
evidenced  by  the  exceptional  length  of  his  legislative  career,  for 
he  represented  Redding  at  twenty-two  sessions  of  the  General 
Assembly,  covering  a  period  of  twenty  years:  May-October, 
1770-71;  October,  1773,  1774,  1775,  1776;  May,  1777;  February, 
May,  October,  1778;  January-May,  1779;  October,  1780,  1782, 
1783,  1784;  May,  1787,  1788;  October,  1788,  1789.  He  was  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  during  the  years  1774-5-6-7-8-9,  and  was  also 
a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Supply,  the  duties  of  this  position 
keeping  him  actively  employed  in  Fairfield  and  Danbury  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  war.  His  committee  service  was  consider- 
able, his  legislative  appointments  being:  May,  1777,  to  estimate 
the  losses  of  the  inhabitants  of  Danbury  caused  by  Tryon's  Raid ; 
also  to  ascertain  the  property  rights  of  the  residents  of  that  town, 
their  public  records  having  been  destroyed;  to  report  losses  at 
Ridgefield  (and  at  this  time,  also,  was  personally  authorized  to 
open  subscriptions  to  a  war  loan  in  Redding)  ;  February,  1778, 
to  inquire  into  the  losses  of  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield;  May,  1778, 
to  visit  Norwalk  and  ascertain  the  extent  of  losses  at  that  place ; 
May,  1781,  added  to  a  committee  appointed  under  "  an  Act  to 
prevent  Robberies  and  Plunders,  from  open  and  secret  Enemies." 
Town  committees :  June  28,  1779,  town  delegate  to  a  County  Con- 
vention to  consider  the  state  of  the  currency;  Nov.  28,  1780,  to  class 
inhabitants  for  recruiting  purposes;  March  28,  1781,  to  vindicate 
claims  to  the  Continental  soldiers;  Feb.  28,  1782,  to  vindicate 
claims  to  Continental  and  State  Troops.  He  afterward  became  a 
judge  of  the  County  Court,  and  died  suddenly  at  Danbury  in  the 
performance  of  the  duties  of  his  position  March  12,  1803. 

Married  Mary  Russell  of  North  Branford,  Conn.,  Sept.  20, 
1768. 

Buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

Lineage:  Lemuel6,  1699-1780;  Ezekiel5,  Ezekiel4,  Thomas3, 
Anthony2,  Raulf  Sanford1,  of  Stowc,  England. 


1 67 

[TodcTs  Hist,  of  Redding;  Schenck's  Hist,  of  Fairfield;  Beach- 
Sanford  Family  Hist.] 

SANFORD,  OLIVER. 

Born  Sept.  17,  1741.     Brother  of  John  Sanford,  the  Loyalist. 

Taken  prisoner  by  the  British  in  the  Danbury  Raid  and 
carried  to  New  York.  Jan.  28,  1780,  chosen  to  provide  for  the 
family  of  Ephraim  Wheeler,  Jr.,  a  soldier,  but  was  excused  Feb- 
ruary 3d. 

SANFORD,  PETER.     1754-1827. 

Supposed  to  have  been  a  soldier;  record  unknown.  Captain 
of  militia  after  the  war.  Representative  for  Redding  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  October,  1801-4-5  —  three  sessions.  Fell  from  his 
horse  while  crossing  the  ford  at  the  north  end  of  Pine  Mountain 
and  was  drowned,  Nov.  20,  1827.  Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

SANFORD,  SETH. 

Deputy  for  Redding  in  the  General  Assembly  of  May,  1776. 
April  2,  1777,  appointed  by  the  town  on  the  committee  to  take  care 
of  soldiers'  families;  May  5,  1777,  appointed  additional  selectman 
to  supply  vacancy  caused  by  capture  of  officials  in  the  Danbury 
Raid;  ensign,  Capt.  Gershom  Morehouse's  company,  4th  Conn. 
Militia,  in  the  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-30,  1777;  again  deputy 
for  Redding  in  the  General  Assembly  at  the  sessions  of  January- 
October,  1778;  January-May,  1779;  October,  1780;  on  town  com- 
mittees: April  16,  1781,  to  class  inhabitants  for  recruiting  pur- 
poses; June  29,  1781,  to  hire  three  soldiers  for  the  Continental 
Army. 

Married  Rebecca  Burr  April  25,  1759;  Abiah  -  -  April  25, 
1778;  Abigail  -  -  Aug.  3,  1781. 

SANFORD,  STEPHEN.     1743-1776. 

Died  Oct.  6,  1776,  in  which  year  it  is  thought  he  served  in  the 
army.  Buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground. 

SANFORD,  TIMOTHY. 

Dec.  22,  1777,  on  committee  appointed  to  take  care  of  soldiers' 
families. 

SEELYE,  STEPHEN. 

Served  in  Lt.-Col.  Samuel  Canfield's  Militia  Regt.  at  West 
Point'  September,  1781.  Deserted. 


i68 

SHERWOOD,  JEHIEL. 

Ensign,  gth  company  (Capt.  John  Gray's),  4th  Conn.  Militia, 
January,  1780. 

SHERWOOD,  NEHEMIAH. 

Born  in  Redding  Aug.  24,  1761. 

This  soldier  served  as  a  private  under  these  enlistments;  1778, 
2  months  with  Capt.  Bennett;  July,  1778,  2  months  under  Capt. 
Olmsted;  April,  1779,  2  months  under  Capt.  Couch;  April,  1780,  8 
months  with  Capt.  Russell;  April,  1781,  2  months;  July,  1781,  4 
months;  December,  1781,  3  months  under  Capt.  Olmsted.  He  was 
pensioned  under  an  application  dated  Oct.  16,  1832. 

SHERWOOD,  THOMAS. 

Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th  Conn.  Militia,  in  the 
Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct.  5-16,  1777. 

SMITH,  ELEAZER. 

Aug.  9,  1779,  appointed  on  the  committee  to  provide  winter 
clothing  for  the  Continental  soldiers.  Dec.  21,  1779,  on  commit- 
tee to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families. 

SMITH,  ERASTUS. 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  County  Capt.  of  a 
Military  Company  in  the  4th  Regt.  of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connec- 
ticut did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fairfield  County  Court  that  pursuant 
to  Brigade  Orders  Dated  June  Ist  A  D :  1779,  he  the  said  Capt  did  on 
the  3  Day  of  June  aforesaid  duly  warn  &  Order  his  said  Company 
to  muster  &  March  to  the  North  River,  at  or  Near  Peekskill,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  &  Join  the  Troops  there  afsembled  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  United  States  of  America,  &  that  Erastus  Smith  of  said 
Redding,  a  Soldier  in  &  Belonging  to  said  Company.  Utterly  Neg- 
lected &  Refused  to  Muster  &  March  as  aforesaid,  Nor  made  Satis- 
faction for  said  Neglect.  As  P  Writ  on  file  Dated  Septem1"  27th 
J779- — The  Def4  Appeared  at  this  Court,  to  Answer  to  said  Informa- 
tion—  and  plead  Not  Guilty.  Thereupon  this  Court  having  exam- 
ined the  Evidence  &  Considered  thereof,  Are  of  Opinion  that  the 
Def1  is  Not  Guilty  of  the  Matters  Alledged  Against  him,  in  said 
Information,  &  this  Court  do  Order  that  he  pay  Cost  of  Profecution 
Allowed  to  be  £22:  16:  o  — 

Coft  p  to  J.  Davenport,  Attorney." 

SMITH,  SAMUEL,  ESQ. 

April  2,  1777,  on  committee  to  take  care  of  the  families  of 
soldiers  in  the  service  of  the  country. 


169 

SPRINGER,  JOHN. 

Enlisted  from  Redding  in  the  2d2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line, 
under  Col.  Heman  Swift,  and  received  £30  bounty,  but  deserted 
June  26,  1781. 

SPRINGER,  WHALA. 

Enlisted  from  Redding  Feb.  7,  1781,  for  3  years,  as  a  private 
in  the  2d2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Heman  Swift  com- 
manding, and  received  £30  bounty.  He  was  at  first  in  the  company 
of  Capt.  Caleb  Baldwin;  in  the  formation  of  January-June,  1783, 
under  Capt.  Stephen  Potter,  and  completed  his  service  in  the 
"  final  formation,"  his  time  expiring  Feb.  7,  1784. 

SQUIRE,  NATHANIEL. 

Taken  prisoner  by  the  British  in  the  Danbury  Raid,  April  26, 
1777,  and  carried  to  New  York;  perhaps  the  same  man  who  served 
in  the  expedition  to  Norwalk,  Fairfield,  and  Stamford,  in  Capt. 
Wm.  G.  Hubbell's  company,  i6th  Conn.  Militia,  under  Col.  Nehe- 
miah  Beardsley,  in  July,  1779,  and  afterward  enlisted  from  New 
Fairfield  in  Lt.-Col.  Samuel  Canfield's  Militia  Regt.  at  West  Point 
September,  1781. 

STARR,  DAVID.     1724-1810.  ] 

Born  Dec.  7,  O.  S.,  1724,  at  Danbury,  Conn. 

Removed  to  Redding  about  1772;  Sept.  8,  1777,  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  committee  to  procure  articles  requested  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  of  Safety;  Dec.  26,  1781,  he  was  appointed  to 
provide  for  the  family  of  Henry  Hopkins,  a  soldier. 

Died  Feb.  n,  1810;  is  said  to  be  buried  in  Redding,  but  the 
grave  is  unknown. 

Lineage:  Benjamin4,  Josiah3,  Thomas2,  Dr.  Comfort  Starr1. 
[Starr  Gen.] 

STARR,  DAVID,  JR.     1755-1814. 

Born  at  Danbury,  Conn.,  Dec.  2,  1755.     Son  of  the  preceding. 

Dec.  21,  1779,  on  committee  to  take  care  of  soldiers'  families. 

Married  Lucy  Sanford  Oct.  8,  1778.  About  1812  removed  to 
Thompson,  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  Y.  Died  1814.  [Starr  Gen.] 

STARR,  MICAJAH.     1746-1820. 

Born  April  2,  1746,  at  Danbury,  Conn. 

Removed  to  Redding  about  1777;  he  and  his  wife  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  Congregational  Church  there  by  letter  that  year;  he 
became  an  active  patriot;  was  conductor  of  teams,  probably  to 


170 

Putnam's  division,  in  1778;  July  30,  1779,  he  was  appointed  on  the 
committee  to  provide  clothing  for  the  Continental  soldiers  then 
in  the  army.  March  13,  1780,  chosen  an  Inspector  of  Provisions; 
April  i6r  1781,  on  committee  to  class  inhabitants  for  recruiting 
purposes,  also  on  a  committee  of  correspondence  relative  to  mone- 
tary and  other  public  affairs.  Emigrated  to  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y., 
about  1793-4,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  became  a  Baptist 
minister.  • 

Died  March  2,  1820. 

Lineage:  Jonathan5,  John4,  Josiah3,  Thomas2,  Dr.  Comfort 
Starr1.  [Starr  Gen.] 

STURGES,  DAVID. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Department;  dis- 
charged Nov.  28,  1775.  Private,  Capt.  John  Gray's  company,  4th 
Conn.  Militia,  Fishkill  Campaign,  Oct  5-30,  1777. 

THOMPSON,  JAMES. 

It  is  difficult  to  distinguish  the  particular  service  rendered  by 
this  soldier  from  that  of  others  of  the  same  name.  He  enlisted 
from  Redding  in  1781-82,  and  received  £30  bounty. 

THORP,  LYMAN. 

Private,  Capt.  James  Horton's  company,  Lt.-Col.  Jeduthan 
Baldwin's  Regt.  of  Artificers;  enlisted  Dec.  23,  1777,  for  3  years. 

Buried  in  Sanfordtown  Cemetery. 

UNKNOWN. 

A  negro  slave  belonging  to  Esq.  Sam.  Smith  of  Redding  was 
killed  in  the  fighting  at  Danbury  April  26,  1777.  The  peculiar 
circumstances  of  his  death  are  set  forth  in  the  affidavits  given 
herewith : 

"Jan.   1778. 

Ebenezer  White,  of  Danbury,  of  lawful  age,  testifies  and  says  that 
on  or  about  the  26th  day  of  April,  1777,  at  evening,  there  being  a 
number  of  gentlemen  at  his  house  belonging  to  the  British  army, 
amongst  which  was  one  whom  he  understood  was  the  Earl  of  Falk- 
land's son,  who  told  him  (the  deponent)  that  he  was  the  first  that 
entered  Maj.  Starr's  house,  and  found  a  number  of  men  in  the  house, 
among  whom  were  two  negroes,  all  of  whom  they  instantly  killed 
and  set  fire  to  the  house;  and  gave  this  for  a  reason  why  they  did  so, 
that  it  was  their  constant  practice,  when  they  found  people  shut  up 
in  a  house  and  firing  upon  them,  to  kill  them,  and  to  burn  the  house; 


and  further  the  deponent  saith,  that  the  said  young  gentleman  told 
him  that  one  of  the  negroes,  after  he  had  run  him  through,  rose  up 
and  attempted  to  shoot  him,  and  that  he  the  said  Earl  of  Falkland's 
son  cut  his  head  off  himself;  which  negro,  the  deponent  understood 
since  was  the  property  of  Mr.  Samuel  Smith  of  Redding;  and  further 
the  deponent  saith  not. 

Danbury,   January  26,    1778. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  White,  the  above  deponent,  person- 
ally appearing,  made  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  written  deposition. 

Sworn  to  before  me,  Thaddeus  Benedict,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Ebenezer  Weed,  of  Danbury,  of  lawful  age,  testifies  and  says,  that 
on  or  about  the  26th  day  of  April,  1777,  he  being  at  home  across  the 
road,  opposite  to  Maj.  Daniel  Starr's  house,  he  saw  a  negro  at  the 
house,  which  he  knew  to  be  the  property  of  Mr.  Samuel  Smith,  of 
Redding,  about  a  half  hour,  as  near  as  he  can  judge,  before  the  Brit- 
ish troops  came  to  said  house;  and  further  the  deponent  saith,  that  in 
the  evening  of  said  day,  he  heard  a  man  belonging  to  the  British 
army,  say  that  they  had  killed  one  dam'd  black  with  the  whites,  in 
said  Starr's  house,  and  further  the  deponent  saith  not. 

Danbury,  June  26,   1778. 

Sworn  before  Thaddeus  Benedict,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Anna  Weed,  of  Danbury,  of  lawful  age,  testifies  and  says,  that  on 
or  about  the  26th  day  of  April,  1777,  she  being  at  home  across  the 
road  opposite  to  Maj.  Starr's  house,  she  saw  a  negro  at  said  house, 
which  she  understood  was  the  property  of  Mr.  Samuel  Smith,  of 
Redding,  but  a  short  time  before  the  British  troops  came  to  said 
house,  and  further  the  Deponent  saith  she  heard  one  of  the  British 
soldiers  say,  here  is  a  dam'd  black  in  the  house,  what  shall  we  do 
with  him?  another  answered,  damn  him,  kill  him,  and  immediately 
the  house  was  in  flames,  and  further  the  deponent  saith  not. 

Danbury,  January  26,  1778. 

Sworn  to  before  Thaddeus  Benedict,  Justice  of  the  Peace." 

[Hinman's  "  Conn,  in  the  War  of  the  American  Revolution."] 

WARRUPS.  TOM. 

Grandson  of  Chickens  Warrups,  chief  of  an  Indian  tribe  which 
lived  in  the  southern  part  of  Lonetown.  In  1776  Tom  served  in 
the  Long  Island  Campaign  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Edward  Rogers 
of  Cornwall,  and  proved  himself  to  be  a  courageous  and  daring 
soldier.  He  was  with  Putnam's  division  at  Redding  in  the  winter 
of  1778-9,  rendering  valuable  service  in  the  capacity  of  guide  and 
scout.  In  the  many  predatory  expeditions  led  against  the  property 
of  the  inhabitants  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camp  he  was  an  acknowl- 
edged leader.  He  had  the  red  man's  weakness  for  the  white 
man's  firewater,  which  often  brought  him  to  disgrace,  and  was  the 
means  of  subjecting  him  to  the  punishment  of  the  "  wooden  horse," 


1/2 

which  consisted  in  being  ridden  on  a  rail  in  front  of  his  regiment. 
His  home  was  for  many  years  located  in  or  near  the  southwestern 
angle  of  the  town,  but  in  his  later  years  he  removed  with  the 
members  of  his  tribe  to  the  town  of  Kent,  in  Litchfield  Co.,  where 
he  died. 

[Todd's  Hist,  of  Redding;  Gold's  Hist,  of  Cornwall.] 

WEEKS,  MICAJAH.     1750-1826. 

This  soldier  was  in  the  Continental  service  in  1776;  Jan.  3  or 
31,  1777,  he  enlisted  from  Ridgefield  (but  on  the  quota  of  Redding) 
for  3  years  or  the  war,  in  the  5th1  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line, 
Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding,  as  a  private  in  the  company 
of  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford ;  promoted  corporal  July,  1780;  sergeant, 
August  1 5th  following.  After  the  consolidation  of  regiments  he 
continued  in  service  in  the  2d2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col. 
Heman  Swift  commanding,  as  sergeant  in  the  company  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Allyn  Wright;  and  in  1783  served  in  the  same  regiment 
under  Capt.  Peter  Robertson. 

His  battle  record  was  remarkable :  he  fought  at  Trenton  Dec. 
25>  J776;  at  Princeton,  Jan.  2,  1777;  Germantown,  Oct.  4,  1777; 
Monmouth,  June  28,  1778;  Stony  Point,  July  15,  1779;  and  York- 
town,  September-October,  1781 ;  and  probably  wintered  at  Valley 
Forge.  A  most  faithful  soldier,  his  term  of  service  covering  five 
years. 

He  removed  to  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  pensioned  under 
an  application  dated  May  2,  1818,  with  an  allowance  of  $96;  his 
name  was  placed  on  the  roll  March  25,  1819,  the  pension  dating 
from  May  22,  1818;  and  he  received  $753-54  in  pension  payments 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  March  27,  1826. 

Married  Bathsheba  Barber  Jan.  20,  1790;  she  died  Aug.  30,  1834. 

WHEELER,  EPHRAIM   (JR.) 

Enlisted  May  12,  1777,  for  the  war,  in  the  5th  Regt.  Conn. 
Continental  Line,  1777-1781,  Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley  commanding, 
and  served  as  a  private  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford; 
deserted  Nov.  23,  1777;  rejoined  April,  1779;  deserted  Feb.  10, 
1780. 

Daniel  Lyon  in  December,  1779,  Oliver  Sanford  in  January, 
1780,  and  Deacon  Joseph  Banks  in  February,  1780,  were  in  turn 
appointed  to  provide  for  Ephraim  Wheeler's  family.  He  was 
probably  son  of  Ephraim  Wheeler  (1716-1806),  who  is  buried  in 
Christ  Church  Yard,  and  whose  tombstone  records  the  remarkable 
fact  of  his  "  having  lived  with  his  wife  67  years,  and  had  10  chil- 
dren. 52  grand  children,  108  great  grand  children,  &  i  great  great 
grand  child." 


'73 

WHITE,  CHARLES. 

Served  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line, 
under  Col.  David  Waterbury,  in  the  Northern  Department;  dis- 
charged Nov.  28,  1775.  Afterward  belonged  to  the  militia,  as 
appears  by  the  record  here  given : 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  County,  Capt.  of  a 
Military  Company  in  the  4th  Regt.  of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connec- 
ticut, did  Inform  the  Judge  of  Fairfield  County  Conrt,  that  pursuant 
to  Brigade  Orders  Dated  June  Ist  1779  he  the  said  Capt  did  on  the  3d 
Day  of  June  aforesaid,  duly  warn  &  Order  his  said  Company  to 
Muster  &  March,  to  Peekskill  in  the  State  of  New  York,  &  Join  the 
Troops  there  Afsembling,  for  the  defence  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  &  that  Charles  White  of  said  Redding,  a  Soldier  in  & 
Belonging  to  said  Company,  Utterly  Neglected  &  Refused  to  Muster 
as  Aforesaid  Nor  made  Satisfaction  for  said  Neglect  —  as  P  Writ 
or!  file  Dated  August  27th  A  D:  1779  — 

The  said  White  was  Called  at  this  Court,  &  made  Default  of  Ap- 
pearance Thereupon  this  Court,  have  Considered  that  he  pay  for  his 
said  Neglect,  Cost  of  Prosecution  taxed  at  Eighteen  Pounds  I2/ — 
that  Exen  be  Grand  &c  — 

Excn  Grand  Septr  3Oth,  1779." 

WILLIAMS,  JABEZ. 

Enlisted  for  the  war  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Ezekiel  Sanford's 
company,  5th1  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Philip  B.  Bradley 
commanding;  two  dates  of  enlistment  are  given:  Dec.  19,  1776; 
Jan.  6,  1777;  the  last  probably  date  of  muster-in;  continued  in 
service  in  the  2d2  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  Col.  Heman 
Swift  commanding,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Joseph  Allyn  Wright; 
was  in  service  through  1781 ;  served  in  the  same  regiment  in  the 
formation  of  January- June,  1783,  in  the  cotnpany  of  Capt.  Peter 
Robertson.  Removed  from  Redding  to  New  Milford,  Conn.,  about 
1784. 

WILSON,  ISAAC. 

Enlisted  for  the  war  March  7,  1779:  served  as  private  in  the 
2d  Regt.  Conn.  Continental  Line,  formation  of  January- June,  1783, 
Col.  Heman  Swift,  commanding,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Elijah 
Chapman. 

YOUNGS,  CHRISTOPHER. 

Received  £30  bounty,   1781-82.     No  further  record. 


LOYALISTS  OF  REDDING  AND 
VICINITY. 

MEMBERS    OF    THE    REDDING    LOYALIST    ASSOCIA- 
TION   AND    OTHERS. 

1  Not  residents  of  Redding. 

a  Not  members  of  the  Association. 

ADAMS,  JABEZ.1 
ADAMS,  JAMES. 
BAILEY,  BENJAMIN.1 
BAILEY,  SAMUEL.1 
BAILEY,  JONATHAN.1 

BANKS,  JESSE. 

He  (with  several  others  named  hereafter)  refused  to  pay  his 
proportion  toward  hiring  a  man  to  serve  in  the  Conn.  Line,  and 
was  assessed  double  that  proportion  by  way  of  fine.  [See  vote 
of  the  town  Feb.  19,  1781.] 

BANKS,  SETH. 

BARDSLEE,  JESSE.     [Bearslee.] 

BARLOW,  NATHANIEL.     See  Rev.  Soldiers. 

BARNUM,  COMFORT.1     [Barnham.] 

BARNUM,  ELIJAH.1 

BARTRAM,  JOHN.     1731- 

BARTRAM,  PAUL.     1736- 

BATES,  JOSEPH.2 

He  fled  to  Long  Island  in  1776. 


175 

BEACH,  REV.  JOHN.2     1700-1782. 

John  Beach,  son  of  Isaac  and  Hannah  Beach,  and  for  fifty 
years  rector  of  Christ  Church,  Redding  Ridge,  was  born  in  Strat- 
ford, Conn.,  Oct.  6,  1700.  He  was  educated  for  the  ministry, 
graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1721,  and  began  his  labors  as  an 
Independent  (Congregational)  minister  at  Newtown,  Conn.,  but 
becoming  finally  converted  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  of 
England,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  April,  1732,  for  the  purpose  of 
being  ordained  to  the  priesthood  of  that  denomination,  bearing 
with  him  a  letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London  from  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Johnson  of  West  Haven,  Conn.,  who  commends  Mr.  Beach  therein 
as  "  a  very  ingenuous  and  studious  person,  and  a  truly  serious  and 
conscientious  Christian  "  —  an  opinion  amply  confirmed  by  Mr. 
Beach's  subsequent  career.  Having  been  duly  ordained,  he  •  re- 
turned to  America  and  took  charge  of  the  Episcopal  parishes  of 
Redding  and  Newtown,  as  a  missionary  of  the  Church  of  England. 
He  resided  in  Redding  till  the  death  of  his  first  wife  in  1756,  when 
he  removed  to  Newtown,  but  continued  his  labors  at  Redding 
Ridge,  and  necessarily  spent  much  time  there.  He  also  min- 
istered to  congregations  in  Ridgefield,  New  Milford,  and  Litch- 
field,  and  his  influence  was  felt  through  a  wide  section  of  country 
and  among  large  numbers  of  his  fellow  men,  in  matters  both 
spiritual  and  political.  In  the  bitter  sectarian  controversies  which 
raged  among  the  religious  denominations  of  that  period  Mr. 
Beach  bore  an  important  part,  his  intellectual  power,  unyielding 
firmness,  and  combative  force  combining  to  make  him  one  of  the 
most  able  controversialists  of  his  day.  When  the  political  horizon 
darkened  he  steadfastly  upheld  the  constituted  authority,  admonish- 
ing his  parishioners  and  fellow  citizens  to  abstain  from  all  acts  of 
sedition,  violence,  or  rebellion,  and  to  seek  redress  of  evils  by 
lawful  means ;  and  when  the  fateful  storm  of  war  at  last  broke 
over  his  native  land,  with  unchangeable  determination  he  continued 
in  his  allegiance  to  the  mother  country  and  the  vows  of  his  faith, 
and  though  already  beyond  the  allotted  span  of  life,  devoted  the 
remainder  of  his  time,  strength,  and  ability  to  the  service  of  his 
people  and  his  God.  When  the  Tory  organizations  were  disarmed 
and  suppressed  in  the  autumn  of  1775  Mr.  Beach  was  one  of  those 
who  signed  the  agreement  not  to  take  up  arms  for  the  British,  nor 
to  discourage  enlistments  into  the  American  Army.  This  compact 
he  seems  to  have  faithfully  observed,  and  at  no  time  does  he  appear 
to  have  counseled  reprisals  or  warlike  acts,  save  that  in  the  use 
of  the  liturgy  of  his  church  he  prayed  for  the  king  and  the  over- 
throw of  the  king's  enemies.  This  observance  public  sentiment 
and  public  authority  had  alike  sternly  interdicted,  with  such  effect 


176 

that  nearly  all  the  Episcopal  churches  in  the  colony  closed  their 
doors,  their  clergy  not  daring  to  incur  the  penalty  of  public  ven- 
geance through  the  use  of  the  forbidden  supplications.  Mr.  Beach 
alone  continued  to  read  the  proscribed  petitions,  and  for  the  pur- 
pose of  compelling  submission  to  the  popular  will,  the  authorities 
of  Redding  addressed  to  him  the  following  letter  of  remonstrance 
and  warning: 

"  Redding,  Feb.   12th,  1778. 

Rev.  Sir,  We  have  no  disposition  to  restrain  or  limit  you  or 
others  in  matters  of  conscience.  But  understanding  that  you  in  your 
Public  Worship  still  continue  to  pray  that  the  King  of  Great  Britain 
may  be  strengthened  to  vanquish,  and  overcome  all  his  enemies,  which 
manner  of  praying  must  be  thought  to  be  a  great  insult  upon  the  Law, 
Authority,  and  People  of  this  State,  as  you  and  others  can  but  know 
that  the  King  of  England  has  put  the  People  of  these  United  States 
from  under  his  protection,  Declared  them  Rebels,  and  is  now  at  open 
war  with  said  State,  and  consequently  we  are  his  enemies. 

Likewise  you  must  have  understood  that  the  American  States 
have  declared  themselves  independent  of  any  Foreign  Power.  —  Now 
Sir,  in  order  that  we  may  have  peace  and  quietness  at  home  among 
ourselves,  we  desire  that  for  the  future  you  would  omit  praying  in 
Public  that  King  George  the  third,  or  any  other  foreign  Prince  or 
Power,  may  vanquish,  etc.  the  People  of  this  Land. 

Your  compliance  herewith  may  prevent  you  trouble. 

We  are  Revd  Sir,  with  due  Respect  your  Obedient  Humble 
Servants. 

To  the  Revd  John  Beach. 

Sanford 


Justices  , 

I  Wm  Hawley 

C  Hezh  Sanford 
Select  Seth    Sanford 


men        4  Thad  Benedict 

I   John  Gray 
Redding    [  WmHeron» 


This  warning  passed  unheeded,  however,  and  the  sterner  meas- 
ures that  were  employed  to  bring  Mr.  Beach  to  terms  were  doubt- 
less used  without  the  sanction  of  civil  authority.  At  Newtown  a 
body  of  soldiers  entered  his  church  during  service,  threatening 
to  shoot  him  if  he  read  the  prayers  for  the  king,  but  with  an  un- 
faltering voice  the  aged  Loyalist  offered  up  the  obnoxious  petitions, 
and  the  soldiers,  struck  with  admiration  for  his  remarkable  cour- 
age, stacked  their  arms,  and  remained  through  the  service.  At 
Redding  Ridge  a  bullet  was  fired  into  the  church  as  he  stood  in 
the  pulpit,  to  the  great  consternation  of  all  but  the  intended  victim, 
who  calmed  his  excited  flock  with  the  words :  "  Fear  not  those 
which  kill  the  body,  but  have  not  power  to  kill  the  soul  "  —  and 


1/7 

continued  the  service  as  though  nothing  had  happened.  On  an- 
other occasion  it  is  said  he  was  seized  by  a  party  of  armed  enemies, 
who  conducted  him  to  the  foot  of  a  hill,  and  bade  him  kneel  and 
pray  for  himself,  as  they  were  resolved  to  kill  him ;  whereupon  he 
knelt,  and  prayed  so  fervently  —  not  for  himself  but  for  them  — 
that  they  stole  in  shame  and  silence  from  the  spot,  leaving  him 
unharmed  and  unconquered.  Though  these  anecdotes  are  clouded 
by  the  uncertainties  of  tradition  there  is  much  evidence  tending 
to  sljow  that  they  are  substantially  true.  They  accord  with  simi- 
lar accounts  of  lawless  violence  and  stern  coercive  measures  em- 
ployed at  that  time. 

Viewed  apart  from  partisan  prejudice,  the  character  of  Rev. 
John  Beach  was  worthy  of  respect  and  admiration.  Firm,  con- 
scientious, and  courageous,  he  adhered  consistently  to  his  convic- 
tions of  right  and  duty,  undeterred  by  popular  opposition,  personal 
danger,  or  the  infirmities  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  feeble  consti- 
tution, the  victim  of  a  lifelong  malady;  gentle  and  amiable  in 
everyday  life,  forceful  in  controversy,  lion-hearted  in  the  face  of 
danger.  That  he  did  not  suffer  more  severely  at  the  hands  of  his 
enemies  was  probably  due,  not  alone  to  his  invincible  courage, 
but  also  to  a  sense  of  pity  for  his  physical  weakness,  and  of 
respect  for  his  advanced  age  and  holy  office,  and  his  death  on 
March  19,  1782,  doubtless  saved  him  from  that  exile  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  so  many  of  his  loyalist  brethren.  The  words  ascribed 
as  his  last  utterance  were  an  epitome  of  his  character  and  career: 
"  I  have  fought  a  good  fight." 

Had  John  Beach  cast  his  lot  with  the  patriots  his  influence 
would  have  attracted  many  of  his  loyalist  friends,  would  have 
prevented  much  bitterness  of  feeling,  and  have  averted  the  wreck 
of  happy  homes,  the  grief  of  exile.  A  more  strongly  united  public 
sentiment  would  thus  have  enabled  the  patriots  to  offer  a  stronger 
resistance  to  British  aggression.  On  the  other  hand,  had  he 
exerted  himself  actively  in  behalf  of  the  royal  cause  it  is  likely 
that  serious  collisions  would  have  occurred  between  the  opposing 
factions  in  Fairfield  County,  with  the  possible  result  of  placing 
the  territory  west  of  the  Housatonic  under  British  domination. 
No  other  loyalist  in  that  section  appears  to  have  united  both 
capacity  and  opportunity  for  leadership.  His  policy  of  passive 
resistance,  adopted  by  many  of  his  friends,  preserved  to  them  the 
peaceable  possession  of  their  homes,  and  reduced  the  danger  of 
armed  opposition  to  the  patriot  cause,  being  to  that  extent  beneficial 
to  both  sides  in  the  great  controversy. 

As  a  spiritual  leader  Mr.  Beach  will  long  be  held  in  reverence. 
Mural  tablets,  commemorative  of  his  worth  and  labors,  have  been 


178 

placed  in  the  churches  over  which  he  presided,  the  tablet  at  Red- 
ding Ridge  containing  a  bullet  taken  from  the  sounding  board  of 
the  church  many  years  after  the  shooting  elsewhere  described, 
while  in  the  churchyard  at  Newtown  a  stone  uplifts  this  legend 
to  the  gaze  of  the  passerby: 

"Here  lyeth  interred  the  earthly  remains  of  the  Revd  John  Beach, 
A.  M.,  late  Missionary  from  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts,  who  exchanged  this  life  for  im- 
mortality on  the  ipth  day  of  March,  1782,  in  the  82d  year  of  his.  age 
&  6ist  year  of  his  ministry. 

The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 

Shall  nourish  when  he  sleeps  in  dust. 
Reader,  let  this  tablet  abide." 

[Beardsley's  "  History  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Connecti- 
cut " ;  Todd's  "  History  of  Redding  " ;  Beach-Sanford  Genealogy.] 

BEACH,  LAZARUS.     1736-1800. 

Fourth  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Beach.     Born  Sept.  20,  1736. 

He  was  active  in  behalf  of  the  royal  authority,  was  arrested 
and  confined  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  as  the  following 
records  show: 

"  Lazarus  Beach,  Andrew  Fairchild,  Nathan  Lee,  Enos  Lee,  Abel 
Burr  of  Reading,  and  Thomas  Allen  of  New  Town  in  the  county  of 
Fairfield,  being  tory  convicts  and  sent  by  order  of  law  to  be  confined 
in  the  town  of  Mansfield,  to  prevent  any  mischievous  practices  of 
theirs,  having  made  their  escape  and  being  taken  up  and  remanded 
back  to  his  Honor  the  Governor  and  this  Council  to  be  dealt  with  &c : 
Resolved  and  ordered  by  the  Governor  and  his  Council  aforesaid,  that 
the  said  Lazarus  Beach,  Andrew  Fairchild,  Nathan  Lee,  Enos  Lee, 
and  Abel  Burr  be  committed  to  the  keeper  of  the  goal  in  Windham 
within  said  prison  to  be  safely  kept  untill  they  come  out  thence  by 
due  order  of  the  General  Assembly  or  the  Governor  and  his  Council 
of  Safety,  and  that  they  pay  cost  of  their  being  apprehended  and 
being  remanded  &c.  allowed  to  be  £25  :  3  :  o  :,  dinners  IIs  :  £25:  14:0 
mittimus  granted  Jany  28"',  1777."  [Rec.  State  Conn.,  v.  i ;  p.  163. 
Gov.  &  C.  S.  Jan.  28,  1777.] 

"Voted,  That  Andrew  Fairchild,  Abel  Burr,  Lazarus  Beach,  Na- 
than Lee,  Enos  Lee  and  Thomas  Allen,  persons  judged  to  be  inimical 
to  the  United  States  and  now  confined  in  Windham  county  goal,  be 
discharged  from  said  goal  on  their  parole,  on  their  paying  all  the  cost 
that  was  taxed  against  them  by  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety 
as  charged  in  the  mittimus  by  which  they  were  committed,  viz  £25  : 
14  :  o,  and  all  cost  that  have  since  arisen  and  may  arise  in  releasing 
them;  the  said  Fairchild,  Burr,  Beach  and  Allen,  to  return  to  Mans- 
field there  to  abide  under  the  direction  of  the  committee  of  inspection 


179 

of  that  town  agreeable  to  a  former  assignment  of  them  to  that  town 
by  said  Governor  and  Council  till  duly  released.  Nathan  Lee  and 
Enos  Lee  are  permitted  to  return  home  on  their  giving  bonds  for 
their  good  behaviour,  and  the  sheriff  of  Windham  county  is  directed 
to  take  said  parole  and  bonds,  and  receive  the  money  for  all  said 
costs  and  to  discharge  said  prisoners  accordingly  and  to  pay  said 
£25  :  14  :  o  to  the  Treasurer  of  this  State,  taking  his  receipts,  lodging 
one  with  the  Secretary,  and  to  pay  the  other  costs  out  of  the  other 
money  to  whoever  due  and  make  return  to  this  Board  of  his  doings 
in  the  premises ;  and  written  orders  are  sent  to  the  sheriff  for  the 
above  purposes." 

[Rec.  State  Conn.  v.  i,  p  171     Gov.  &  C.  S.     Feb.  10,  1777.] 

Mr.  Beach  resided  in  Redding  after  the  war,  and  died  there 
Jan.  20,  1800. 

[Beach-Sanford  Genealogy.] 

BENEDICT,  MICHAEL.1 

BENNET,  SHUBAEL. 

BETTS,  STEPHEN.     1751-1821.     See  Rev.  Soldiers. 

BRADLEY,  WILLIAM.1 

BULKLEY,  GERSHOM.1 

BULKLEY,  PETER. 

BUNNEL,  ISAAC. 

BURR,  AREL.     1728-1779. 
Born  Sept.  8,  1728.* 
Lineage:     Joseph4,  Daniel3,  Daniel2,  Jehu  Burr1,  of  Fairfield.* 

BURR,  ABEL,  JR.     1751- 

Born  Dec.  19,  1751,*  son  of  the  preceding.  Went  over  to  the 
enemy  and  probably  remained  with  them  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
See  vote  of  the  town  Feb.  5.  1781.  See  also  Beach,  Lazarus. 

BURR,  JONATHAN.1 

BURR,  JOSEPH.     1733- 

Born  Oct.  22,  1733.*     Brother  of  Abel,  Sr. 

Mr.  Burr  went  over  to  the  enemy,  and  his  property  was  duly 
confiscated,  the  various  forms  of  legal  process  being  illustrated  in 
the  records  given  herewith : 


i8o 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding,  in 
Fairfield  County,  Shewing  to  the  Special  County  Court  held  at  Fair- 
field  in  &  for  said  County  on  the  6th  Day  of  August,  1777  —  That  there 
is  Real  Estate  Lying  in  said  Redding  which  Belongs  to  Joseph  Burr 
of  said  Redding  who  has  put  and  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen  him- 
self under  the  Protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  A  Writ  was 
Ifsued  by  Order  of  said  Court  Dated  August  7th,  1777  —  To  Seize  and 
to  hold  said  Estate  and  to  be  Dealt  with  According  to  Law  —  The 
said  Burr  was  Called  at  this  Court  and  made  Default  of  Appearance. 
Thereupon  this  Court  have  now  Considered  the  Evidence  Relative  to 
said  Burr's  Screening  himself  As  aforesaid  Do  order  that  the  Real 
Estate  of  said  Burr  According  to  the  Officer's  Return  on  said  Writ 
be  Leafed  out  for  the  ufe  and  Benefit  of  this  State  —  and  for  that 
purpose  this  Court  has  appointed  —  Thads  Benedict  Esqr  of  Redding." 

"Fairfield  Adj'd  County  Court  2d  Tuesday  Decemr  1777. 
On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in  Fair- 
field  County  —  Shewing  to  Lemuel  Sanford  Esqr  Justice  of  the  peace 
for  said  County  That  There  is  Goods  Chatties  and  Effects  in  said 
Redding  which  Belongs  to  Joseph  Burr  of  said  Redding  who  has  put 
and  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen  himself  under  the  protection  of  the 
Ministerial  Army  &c  —  said  Justice  Ifsued  out  a  Writ  Dated  Augst 
14th  1777  —  to  Seize  and  to  hold  said  Estate  and  to  be  Dealt  with 
According  to  Law  —  The  said  Burr  was  Called  at  this  Court  —  made 
Default  of  Appearance  —  This  Court  having  Considered  the  Evidences 
Relative  to  said  Burr's  Screening  himself  As  aforesaid  —  Do  Order 
that  the  Goods  and  Effects  According  to  the  Officer's  Return  on  said 
Writ  of  said  Burr  be  Forfeited  to  the  use  and  Benefit  of  this  State 
and  that  they  be  sold  According  to  Law  —  and  that  Excn  be 
Granted  &c. 

Excn  Grand  Dec.   ioth   1777." 

"  Whereas  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in  Fairfield 
County  did  Inform  John  Read  Esqr  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  said 
County  trfet  there  is  Estate  in  Redding  and  Fairfield  in  said  County 
that  Belongs  to  Joseph  Burr  late  of  said  Redding  who  has  gone  over 
to,  Joined  with  and  Screened  himself  under  the  Protection  of  the 
Ministerial  Army  &c,  said  Burr  was  Summoned  to  Appear  at  this 
Court  to  shew  reafon  why  his  said  Estate  should  not  be  Declared 
Forfeit  &c  As  Pr  Writ  on  file  Dated  October  15th  1778  —  said  Burr 
was  called  at  this  Court  &  made  Default  of  Appearance  Thereupon 
this  Court  having  Considered  the  Evidence  Relative  to  faid  Burr's 
Screening  himself  As  aforesaid  Do  order  that  the  Estate  of  said  Burr 
be  &  the  same  is  hereby  Forfeited  to  and  for  the  ufe  &  Benefit  of  this 
State,  and  that  the  fame  be  Further  Dealt  with  According  to  Law." 

[*Chas.  B.  Todd's  Burr  Genealogy.     "  The  Burr  Family."] 
BYINGT ON,  JOHN,  JR.     See  Rev.  Soldiers. 


CALDWELL,  WILLIAM.1 

In  1782  he  was  enrolled  as  a  Loyalist  Associator  to  settle  at 
Shelburne,  N.  S.,  the  following  year. 

CASCIS,  DANIEL.1 

CLARKE,  NEHEMIAH.2     1739-1825. 

Nehemiah  Clarke  was  a  physician  who  appears  to  have  located 
in  Hartford,  Conn.,  during  the  troublous  period  which  preceded 
the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution.  He  had  established  an  extensive 
practice  and  a  comfortable  home,  but  his  avowed  attachment  to 
the  cause  of  tht  crown  brought  upon  him  the  vengeance  of  the 
Whigs  with  consequent  misfortune. 

The  Second  or  South  Ecclesiastical  Society  of  Hartford  owned, 
among  other  properties,  a  piece  of  land  located  on  the  west  side 
of  the  "  great  road  "  leading  from  Hartford  to  Wethersfield,  and 
near  the  center  of  the  first-named  town,  in  quantity  three  roods 
and  nine  rods.  This  tract  the  South  Society  leased  to  Capt.  Aaron 
Bull  of  Hartford  for  the  term  of  999  years,  and  Capt.  Bull  leased 
the  south  half  of  this  lot  to  Dr.  Clarke  for  the  consideration  of  one 
penny  and  the  term  of  900  years.  —  "Always  Provided  Neverthe- 
lefs,  and  it  is  upon  this  Condition,  that  if  the  said  Nehemiah  Clark 
his  Heirs  Executors  adminiftrators  and  afsigns  Shall  they  or 
Either  of  them  fail  to  pay  unto  him  the  said  Aaron  Bull  or  to  the 
Committee  of  Said  Society  for  the  ufe  of  Said  Society  the  Sum  of 
Forty  Two  Shillings  Lawful  money  on  the  firft  Monday  of  June 
annually  in  each  and  every  Year  During  Said  Term  as  a  Reafon- 
able  Rent  now  agreed  upon  by  the  parties  to  be  paid  for  the  ufe 
of  the  Premifes  and  which  the  said  Aaron  stands  Obligated  to  Pay 
and  Discharge  then  the  foregoing  writing  and  Indenture  of  Lease 
and  every  Article  &  Covenant  therein  shall  upon  such  failure  on 
the  part  of  him  the  Said  Nehemiah  his  hei"s  &c  be  null  and  Void 
and  of  none  Effect  and  Said  Leafed  Premifes  Shall  revert  and 
Remain  as  tho'  nothing  had  been  done  or  pretended  to  be  done,  by 
the  prefent  writing  or  Instrument."  [See  Hartford  Town  Rec- 
ords, v.  13,  p.  494.]  It  was  under  the  operation  of  this  clause, 
evidently,  that  Dr.  Clarke  lost  the  valuable  property  he  was  now 
about  to  acquire. 

L'pon  the  above-named  lot  the  doctor  built  a  house  containing 
four  rooms  on  each  floor,  also  a  barn,  store,  and  other  buildings, 
at  a  total  cost  of  £560.  His  medical  practice  brought  him  in  an 
average  income  of  £400  a  year ;  he  had  a  good  home  and  an  inter- 
esting family,  and  his  prospects  in  life  were  most  flattering,  but 


182 

his  sentiments  in  favor  of  the  British  government,  and  his  opposi- 
tion to  the  measures  of  Congress,  made  him  so  obnoxious  to  the 
patriots  that  in  1774,  soon  after  the  destruction  of  the  tea  in 
Boston  Harbor,  he  found  it  advisable  to  remove  from  Hartford  to 
Redding,  where  the  Tories  were  more  numerous,  and  where  he 
hoped  the  political  atmosphere  would  prove  more  congenial. 

In  February,  1775,  he  returned  to  Hartford  to  adjust  some 
business  relative  to  his  estates  there,  but  was  seized  by  a  mob  and 
treated  with  such  severity  that  his  life  was  despaired  of  by  able 
physicians,  and  after  his  recovery  he  made  his  escape  with  diffi- 
culty and  returned  to  Redding.  But  soon  after  his  arrival  there 
he  was  again  seized,  he  says,  by  "  a  numerous  banditti,"  and  thrown 
into  a  guard-house,  from  which  he  could  not  extricate  himself 
except  by  signing  a  bond  of  £1,000  not  to  go  over  to  the  British. 
This  does  not  appear  to  have  protected  him  from  further  molesta- 
tion, for  from  the  loth  of  May,  1776,  he  was  obliged  to  hide  in  the 
woods,  or  otherwise  secrete  himself,  to  avoid  the  violence  of  the 
people.  In  this  manner  he  waited  for  an  opportunity  to  escape 
to  the  British  lines,  in  which  attempt  he  finally  succeeded,  though 
at  great  personal  risk,  in  December,  1776,  leavipg  his  wife  and  five 
children  unprovided  for  in  the  hands  of  his  enemies. 

Having  reached  the  British  camp  on  Long  Island  he  joined  the 
army,  and  first  served  as  lieutenant  in  Col.  Browne's  Regt.  (Prince 
of  Wales  American  Volunteers),  in  a  company  commanded  by  his 
brother.  Later  he  was  appointed  Surgeon's  Mate  in  Col.  Hart- 
choy's  Regt.,  and  in  1777  was  promoted  Surgeon  to  Col.  Ernerick's 
Chasseurs,  in  which  he  served  till  1779,  when  the  corps  was  drafted, 
and  he  was  transferred  to  the  Quartermaster-General's  Depart- 
ment, where  he  served  as  surgeon  till  the  peace  of  1783.  In  Sep- 
tember of  that  year  he  removed  to  St.  John,  New  Brunswick,  of 
which  city  he  was  one  of  the  grantees. 

After  Dr.  Clarke's  flight  from  Hartford  the  South  Society 
seized  his  property  in  that  city  (probably  for  nonpayment  of  rent, 
as  specified  in  the  lease),  and  leased  or  sold  it  to  one  Dr.  Gibson, 
who  had  been  Clarke's  tenant  one  year.  The  doctor  estimated  his 
losses  in  Hartford  at  £1,285  including  buildings,  household  furni- 
ture, chaise,  medical  practice,  etc.,  etc.  In  Redding  he  lost  £125 
worth  of  furniture,  which,  he  said,  was  taken  from  him  by  a  rebel 
general.  He  presented  claims  to  the  British  government  for 
£722:  16,  on  which  he  was  allowed  £240,  and  also  received  half- 
pay  as  a  surgeon.  He  died  at  Douglas,  New  Brunswick,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six. 

COUCH,  STEPHEN.1 


CROFUT,  DAVID.     [Crowfoot.] 
CUTIS,  SOLOMON.1     [Curtis?] 

DAVIS,  JAMES. 

This  member  of  the  Association  is  thought  to  be  the  same  of 
whom  tradition  relates  that  he  was  a  Tory  of  Redding,  that  he 
fled  to  the  enemy,  and  that  his  estate  was  confiscated.  No  records 
found. 

DEFOREST,  EPHRAIM.     1740-1827. 

Ephraim  Deforest,  son  of  David  and  grandson  of  Isaac  De- 
forest, was  probably  born  in  Wilton  (then  a  parish  of  Norwalk), 
and  was  married  to  Sarah  Betts  of  Norwalk  by  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Bartlett  Oct.  25,  1764.  This  date  probably  marks  the  period  at 
which  he  settled  in  Redding.  He  was  a  tanner  and  shoemaker  by 
trade,  and  bought  land  in  Redding  from  Abel  Cady  in  1771  and  of 
James  Adams  in  1775.  He  established  tan-works  on  the  premises, 
and  gave  employment  to  several  persons.  He  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  king,  and  for  his  loyalty  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  pos- 
sessions in  November,  1776,  and  fly  for  protection  to  the  British 
lines  at  New  York,  suffering  the  loss  of  his  property  in  conse- 
quence. He  was  appointed  ensign  in  Gov.  Browne's  Regt.  (Prince 
of  Wales  American  Volunteers),  and  acted  as  guide  to  Gov. 
Tryon  in  the  expedition  against  Danbury,  in  April,  1777,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Long  Island  and  worked  at  his  trade  for 
a  while,  then  served  upwards  of  two  years  at  Morrisania  in  De- 
lancey's  Brigade,  in  the  battalion  commanded  by  Col.  James  De- 
lancey.  Later  on  Deforest  was  a  lieutenant  under  Col.  Upham, 
stationed  at  Lloyd's  Neck.  He  was  twice  taken  prisoner  during 
the  war  and  suffered  considerably  on  those  occasions.  He  came 
in  the  first  fleet  from  New  York  in  1783,  with  his  wife  and  three 
children,  and  settled  at  Maugerville,  Nova  Scotia.  His  land  and 
stock  in  Redding  was  confiscated,  the  land  being  sold  to  a  man 
named  Platt.  His  losses  on  house,  barn,  shop,  15  acres  of  land  at 
Redding,  stock,  and  furniture  he  estimated  at  £271 : 3.  He  pre- 
sented claims  amounting  to  £204,  and  was  allowed  £70  in  satisfac- 
tion thereof. 

The  following  documents  show  the  legal  process  employed  in 
the  seizure  and  disposal  of  Deforest's  property: 

"On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  County  Shewing  the  adjd  County  Court  held  at  Fairfield 
in  &  for  said  County  on  the  Ist  Tuesday  of  March  1777  —  That  there 
is  Real  Estate  Lying  in  said  Redding  which  Belongs  to  Ephraim  De- 


1 84 

forest  of  said  Redding  who  has  put  and  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen 
himself  under  the  protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  A  Writ 
was  Ifsued  by  order  of  said  Court  to  Seize  and  to  hold  said  Estate, 
and  to  be  dealt  with  According  to  Law  the  said  Deforest  was  Called 
at  this  Court  &  made  Default  of  Appearance  —  This  Court  having 
Considered  the  Evidences  Relative  to  said  Deforest's  Screening  him- 
self as  aforesaid  —  Do  order  &  Direct  that  the  Real  Estate  of  said 
Deforest  —  According  to  the  officer's  Return  on  said  Writ  be  Leased 
out  for  the  use  &  Benefit  of  this  State  and  for  that  purpose  this  Court 
has  appointed  Thads  Benedict  —  Redding." 

Deforest  soon  after  appeared  in  Redding  —  not,  however,  in 
response  to  a  citation  of  the  court.  As  guide  to  Tryon's  column 
he  probably  visited  his  old  home  for  the  last  time.  Later  in  the 
year  a  writ  was  issued  against  his  moveable  property,  as  here 
shown : 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  County,  Shewing  to  Lemuel  Sanford  Esqr  —  Justice  of  the 
peace  for  said  County  that  there  is  Goods  Chatties  &  Effects  in  sd 
Redding  which  belongs  to  Ephraim  Deforest  of  said  Redding  —  who 
has  put  &  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen  himself  under  the  protection 
of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  a  writ  was  Ifsued  out  by  said  Justice 
to  Seize  and  to  hold  said  Estate  —  and  to  be  Dealt  with  According 
to  Law  —  the  said  Deforest  was  Called  at  this  Court  and  made  Default 
of  Appearance  —  This  Court  having  Considered  the  Evidence  Relative 
to  said  Deforest's  Screening  himself  as  aforesaid  to  order  and  Direct 
that  the  Goods  &  Effects  of  said  Deforest  According  to  the  Officer's 
Return  on  said  Writ  be  Forfeited  to  the  ufe  and  Benefit  of  this  State 
—  and  that  they  be  sold  According  to  Law  —  and  that  Excn  be 
Granted  &c  — 

Excn  Granted  Decr  ioth  1777." 

While  Putnam's  division  lay  at  Redding  late  in  the  following 
year  the  final  forfeiture  of  Deforest's  estate  was  decreed : 

"  3d  Tues.  Nov.  1778. —  Whereas  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of 
Redding  in  Fairfield  County  did  Inform  John  Read  Esqr  J  P  for  sd 
Co.  that  there  is  Estate  in  said  Redding  which  belongs  to  Ephraim 
Deforest  of  said  Redding  who  has  gone  over  to,  Joined  with  & 
Screened  himself  under  the  Protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  — 
said  Deforest  was  summoned  to  Appear  At  this  Court  to  shew  Reafon 
why  his  said  Estate  should  not  be  declared  Forfeit  &c  as  P  Writ  on 
file  Dated  Oct.  15,  1778  —  said  Deforest  was  Called  at  this  Court  & 
made  Default  of  Appearance.  Thereupon  the  Court  having  Consid- 
ered the  Evidence  Relative  to  said  Deforest's  Screening  himself  As 
aforesaid  Do.  order  that  the  Estate  of  said  Deforest  be  &  the  same 
is  hereby  declared  Forfeit  to  &  for  the  ufe  &  Benefit  of  this  State  & 
that  the  same  be  further  Dealt  with  According  to  Law." 


'DREW,  ISAAC.     1752- 

Born  June  15,  1752. 

"i  Tues.  Mch.  1778. —  Whereas  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of 
Redding  in  Fairfield  County  did  Inform  the  Adjourned  County  Court 
held  at  Fairfield  in  &  for  said  County  on  the  Ist  Tuesday  of  January 
1778  —  That  there  is  Real  Estate  in  said  Redding  which  Belongs  to 
Isaac  Drew  of  Said  Redding  who  has  put  &  Continues  to  hold  & 
Screen  himself  Under  the  Protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  — 
A  Writ  was  Hsued  out  by  Order  of  Said  Court  to  Seize  &  to  hold 
said  Estate  &  to  be  Dealt  with  According  to  Law,  As  P  Writ  on  file 
Dated  i6th  Day  of  Jan1"*  A  D  1778.  The  said  Drew  was  Called  at 
this  Court,  and  made  Default  of  Appearance.  This  Court  having 
Considered  the  Evidence  Relative  to  said  Drews  Screening  himself  as 
aforesaid,  Do  order  &  Direct  that  the  Real  Estate  of  said  Drew  Ac- 
cording to  the  Officers  Return  on  said  Writ  be  Leafed  out  for  the  ufe 
&  Benefit  of  this  State,  and  for  that  purpose  the  Court  has  appointed 
Thads  Benedict,  Esqr  of  said  Redding. — 

Warrant  Ifsued  March  25th,   1778." 

No  other  record  found.  Isaac  Drew  may  have  returned  and 
submitted  to  the  state  government. 

DREW,  JOHN,  JR.     1749- 

Born  Dec.  16,  1749. 

This  man  refused  to  perform  military  duty  in  the  summer  of 
1779,  as  here  shown: 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  County  Capt  of  a 
Military  Company  in  the  4th  Reg1  of  Militia  in  the  State  of  Connec- 
ticut, did  inform  the  Judge  of  Fairfield  County  Court,  that  pursuant 
to  Brigade  Orders  dated  the  Ist  Day  of  June  1779,  he  the  said  Capt 
did  on  the  3d  Day  of  said  June,  duly  warn,  &  Order  his  said  Company, 
to  March  to  Peekskill  in  the  State  of  New  York,  to  Defend  against 
the  Enemies  of  the  United  States  of  America  &  that  John  Drew  Junr 
of  said  Redding,  a  Soldier  in  and  belonging  to  said  Company  Utterly 
Neglected  &  Refused  to  March  As  aforesaid,  Nor  made  Satisfaction 
for  said  Neglect  —  as  P  Writ  on  file  Dated  August  27th  A  D:  1779  — 

The  said  Drew  was  Called  at  this  Court,  &  made  Default  of  Ap- 
pearance. Thereupon  it  is  Considered  by  this  Court,  that  the  Delin- 
quent shall  pay  as  a  fine  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Town  of  Redding 
Aforesaid  the  Sum  of  One  Hundred  &  Twenty  Pounds  Lawful  Money 
As  a  fine  for  his  said  Neglect  and  Alfo  Cost  of  Prosecution  taxt  at 
Eighteen  Pounds  I2/  —  and  that  Excn  be  granted  &c 


Excn  Grand 

Septem1' 

30th 

1779 

Renewed 

Nov. 

23 

1779 

Renewed 

April 

12, 

1780 

Renewed 

Sept. 

8, 

1780 

Renewed 

Nov. 

29, 

1780 

Renewed 

Feb'y 

8th 

1781 

Renewed 

April 

18, 

1781 

Renewed 

June 

28, 

1781 

Renewed 

March 

16, 

1782 

12 

1 86 

DREW,  PETER.     1754- 
Born  April  22,  1754. 

EDWARDS,  JOSEPH,  JR.1 

FAIRCHILD,  ANDREW.2     See  Beach,  Lazarus. 

FAIRCHILD,  C.1 

FAIRCHILD,  JOSEPH.1 

FAIRCHILD,  PETER.2 

Peter  Fairchild  (by  such  facts  as  can  be  ascertained  concern- 
ing him)  appears  to  have  been  a  prominent  citizen,  who,  at  first 
secretly  and  afterward  openly,  favored  the  royal  cause.  He  repre- 
sented Redding  in  the  Legislature  of  1774,  and  in  April  of  the 
following  year  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Capt.  Zalmon 
Read's  company,  5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  but  resigned.  He  fur- 
nished food,  forage,  etc.,  when  the  troops  under  Col.  Ichabod 
Lewis  came  to  Redding  and  disarmed  the  Tories.  See  vote  of  the 
town  Dec.  13,  1775.  Probably  his  real  sentiments  became  public 
soon  after.  His  name  appears  no  more  in  the  public  records. 
Sabine  describes  him  as  "  a  noted  Tory,"  who  fled  to  Long  Island 
in  1776,  eluding  all  attempts  to  capture  him.  He  was  perhaps  the 
man  who  late  in  1776  served  as  captain  in  the  Queen's  Rangers 
(Loyalist)  under  Col.  Robert  Rogers. 

GILBERT,  ABNER.1 

GRAY,  JAMES. 

Mr.  Gray  was  doubtless  one  of  those  who  joined  the  Tryon 
Expedition  in  April,  1777,  in  the  belief  that  the  colonies  would  be 
conquered.  He  returned,  however,  in  time  to  save  his  property 
from  confiscation. 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  County  shewing  to  the  Special  County  Court  held  at  Fair- 
field  in  and  for  said  County  on  the  5th  Day  of  August  1777  — that 
their  is  Real  Estate  Lying  in  said  Redding  which  Belongs  to  James 
Gray  of  said  [Redding]  who  has  put  &  Continues  to  hold  &  Screen 
under  the  Protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  said  Court  Ifsued 
out  a  Writ  Dated  August  7th  1777  —  to  Seize  and  to  hold  sd  Estate 
&  to  be  Dealt  with  According  to  Law.  *e  said  Gray  was  Called  at 
this  Court  and  made  Default  of  Appearance  —  Whereupon  this  Court 
having  Considered  the  Evidence  Relative  to  said  Gray's  Screening 


i87 

himself  as  aforesaid,  Do  order  that  the  Real  Estate  of  said  Gray 
According  to  the  Officers  Return  on  said  Writ  be  Leafed  out  for  the 
ufe  and  Benefit  of  this  State,  and  for  that  purpose  this  Court  has 
appointed  Thaddeus  Benedict  —  Redding." 

"  Whereas  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in  Fairfield 
County  did  Inform  John  Read  Esqr  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  said 
County,  that  there  is  Estate  in  sd  Redding  that  Belongs  to  James 
Gray  of  said  Redding  who  has  Gone  over  to,  Joined  with  &  Continues 
to  hold  &  Screen  himself  under  the  Protection  of  the  Ministerial 
Army  &c  —  the  faid  Gray  was  Summoned  to  Appear  at  this  Court 
to  show  Reafon  why  his  said  Estate  should  not  be  declared  Forfeit  &c 
As  P  Writ  on  file  Dated  October  I5tu  A  D  1778  P  Adjournment. 
The  said  Gray  Appeared  at  this  Court  to  answer  to  said  Complaint. 
This  Court  having  Examined  the  Evidence  Relative  to  said  Gray'-s 
Screening  himself  as  aforesaid  and  Considered  thereof  Give  Judg- 
ment that  said  Gray  is  Not  Guilty,  and  that  his  Estate  be  Not  Forfeited 
to  &  for  the  use  &  Benefit  of  this  State  —  and  this  Court  do  Order 
that  he  be  Difmifsed  without  paying  Cost."  — 

Feb.  5,  1781,  the  town  voted  not  to  abate  the  assessments  of 
Mr.  Gray  and  others  which  had  been  levied  for  the  purpose  of 
hiring  soldiers  for  the  Continental  Army. 

GRAY,  JAMES,  JR. 

Son  of  the  preceding.  He  went  over  to  the  enemy,  and  prob- 
ably remained  till  the  close  of  the  war.  See  vote  of  the  town 
Feb.  5,  1781. 

GRIFFIN,  SILAS.1 
GUYER,  DARLING.     [Gyer.] 
GUYER.  JOHN. 
GUYER,  JOSEPH. 


^yer;  Gyre.] 

One  of  these  men  is  mentioned  as  a  "  skipper,"  who  assisted  a 
number  of  disaffected  persons  to  escape  from  Connecticut,  having 
set  seven  men  ashore  at  Fort  Neck  Point,  L.  I.,  in  which  act  he  was 
discovered  by  Gilbert  Jones,  one  of  the  Oyster  Bay  Committee, 
who  was  watching  his  movements  through  a  spyglass.  These  men 
were  located  at  Blue  Point,  L.  L,  and  both  were  finally  captured 
with  a  companion,  in  a  clam  boat  near  Silas  Carman's  Landing, 
Oyster  Bay,  were  examined  before  Joshua  Ketcham  and  Benjamin 


i88 

Birdsall  on  May  26,  1776,  officially  charged  with  "  treasonable 
practices  against  the  United  States  of  America " ;  on  May  2Qth 
were  forwarded  by  Lieut.  John  Holliday  from  Far  Rockaway  to 
the  custody  of  Gen.  Greene,  and  on  July  i8th  following  were  sent 
to  Litchfield  jail.  They  were  probably  related  to  the  Redding 
family,  evidently  residing  in  some  one  of  our  shore  towns,  and  may 
have  crossed  over  from  the  mainland  and  engaged  in  the  work  of 
aiding  refugees  to  escape  to  the  British  lines.  Perhaps  some  of 
our  own  Tory  friends  were  among  their  passengers. 

GUYER,  NATHANIEL. 

"  Whereas  John  Gray  of  Redding  in  Fairfield  Co.  Capt.  of  the  9th 
Military  Co.  in  the  4th  Regt.  of  Militia  in  this  State  did  Inform  the 
Judge  of  Fairfield  County  Court,  that  pursuant  to  Brigade  Orders, 
Dated  June  I,  1779, —  he  the  said  Capt.  did  on  the  3  Day  of  June  1779, 
duly  warn  and  order  his  said  Company  to  March  to  Peekskill  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  for  the  defense  of  the  United  American  States 
and  y*  Nathhl  Guyer,  of  said  Redding,  a  Soldier  in  &  Belonging  to 
said  Company,  Utterly  Neglected  &  Refused  to  March  According  to 
said  Order,  nor  made  satisfaction  for  said  neglect  —  As  P  Writ  on 
file  Dated  Aug.  27th  1779.  The  said  Guyer  Appeared  at  this  Court 
to  Answer  unto  said  Information,  &  being  put  to  plead  plead  Not 
Guilty  &  for  trial  put  himself  on  the  Court. 

This  Court  having  considered  thereof  Are  of  Opinion  that  the  De- 
linquent is  Not  Guilty  of  the  Matters  Alledged  against  [him]  in  said 
Information  —  &  thereupon  this  Court  do  Order  that  he  pay  Cost  of 
Prosecution  Allowed  to  be  £26  —  8  Lawful  Money."- 

GUYER,  THADDEUS. 
HALL,  JOHN. 
HALL,  CAPT.  JOSHUA. 
HAMBLETON,  WILLIAM.1 

HAWES,  PRINCE. 

He  fled  to  Long  Island  in  1776,  and  the  fact  was  communicated 
to  Gen.  Washington. 

HAWLEY,  ENSIGN  SAMUEL. 

Samuel  Hawley  was  appointed  ensign  of  the  east  side  company 
or  trainband  [nth  company,  4th  Regt.  Militia],  in  October,  1773. 
When  detachments  were  ordered  from  the  various  companies  for 
the  defense  of  New  York  in  1776  Ensign  Hawley  and  the  superior 
officers  of  his  company  endeavored  to  prevent  the  draft,  with 


1 89 

results  disastrous  to  themselves.  [See  Hill,  Capt.  Daniel.]  In 
April,  1777,  Hawley  went  over  to  the  enemy,  probably  with  the 
Tryon  Expedition,  but  returned  the  same  year,  as  shown  by  his 
memorial  to  the  Legislature: 

"  Upon  the  memorial  of  Samuel  Hawley,  of  Redding  in  the  county 
of  Fairfield,  showing  to  this  Assembly  that  he  is  now  a  prisoner  in 
said  county,  held  to  answer  for  crimes  against  the  State,  and  that 
under  the  influence  of  a  belief  that  the  country  would  be  subdued,  he, 
in  April  last,  left  the  country  and  went  to  the  enemy,  but  being  after- 
wards perswaded  that  his  conduct  was  unjustifyable  and  on  or  about 
the  19th  of  November  last  he  was  induced  by  the  proclamation  of  the 
pjonbie  Gen1  Putnam,  issued  the  17th  of  November,  offering  a  pardon 
to  such  as  should  return  to  their  habitation  to  return  home,  and 
thereupon  he  did  return  home  and  resign  himself  up  to  authority, 
and  took  the  oath  of  fidelity,  and  praying  for  a  pardon  of  his  offence,  as 
per  memorial  on  file :  Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  that  said  Samuel 
Hawley  be  released  from  his  present  confinement  on  his  paying  the 
costs  of  his  prosecution,  and  that  he  be  discharged,  and  he  is  hereby 
pardoned  and  discharged  from  any  further  prosecution  for  said  of- 
fence." 

[Rec.  State  Conn,  v  i.,  p.  508:  G.  A.  Jan.  1778.] 

HENDRIX,  OBED.     See  Rev.   Soldiers. 

HERON,  WILLIAM.2     1742-1819. 

Mystery  enshrouds  the  character  and  career  of  William  Heron. 
He  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  a  man  of  education  (it  is  supposed  he 
was  a  student  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin),  of  aristocratic  preten- 
sions, and  with  political  ambitions,  which  were  certainly  gratified 
to  a  reasonable  degree.  He  was  a  teacher  at  Greenfield  Hill, 
a  surveyor  of  county  highways,  and  a  long-time  resident  of  Red- 
ding, where  he  probably  settled  several  years  previous  to  the  out- 
break of  hostilities.  He  soon  became  a  factor  in  the  political  life 
of  the  town,  filled  local  offices,  and  during  the  Revolution  rendered 
service  in  various  capacities  under  the  following  appointments : 
April  2,  1777,  on  a  committee  to  hire  soldiers  for  the  Continental 
Army;  June  28,  1779,  delegate  to  a  county  convention  to  consider 
monetary  affairs;  March  13,  1780,  chosen  an  Inspector  of  Pro- 
visions; Dec.  27,  1780,  on  a  committee  appointed  to  ascertain  the 
length  of  time  served  by  soldiers  of  the  town;  April  16,  1781,  on 
a  Committee  of  Correspondence  relative  to  monetary  and  other 
affairs;  Feb.  28,  1782,  on  committee  to  class  inhabitants  for  re- 
cruiting purposes  —  these  were  all  town  appointments.  Also,  he 
represented  the  town  in  the  General  Assembly  for  four  sessions 
during  the  war:  May,  1778,  October,  1779;  January,  1780  (ad- 


1 90 

journed  session)  ;  May,  1781;  and  at  the  session  of  October,  1779, 
was  made  a  member  of  the  committee  appointed  to  estimate  losses 
incurred  by  the  inhabitants  of  Norwalk  during  the  preceding  July. 
At  the  adjourned  session  of  January,  1780,  he  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  committee  designated  to  investigate  certain  irregu- 
larities existing  in  the  departments  of  the  Quartermaster-General 
and  Commissary-General.  Besides  this,  it  is  stated  he  served  with 
credit  in  the  field  as  a  volunteer.  After  the  war  his  political 
prestige  greatly  increased,  and  he  again  represented  the  town  at 
the  sessions  of  October,  1784;  May,  1785;  October,  1786,  to  May, 
1790,  inclusive;  October,  1795;  May-October,  1796  —  a  total  serv- 
ice of  seventeen  sessions  during  eighteen  years.  None  of  his 
fellow  townsmen  —  excepting  his  powerful  political  antagonist, 
Judge  Lemuel  Sanford  —  enjoyed  the  legislative  honor  so  many 
times. 

Such  a  record  indicates  both  popularity  and  patriotism,  but 
other  facts  present  this  man's  character  in  an  unfavorable  light. 
By  many  of  his  fellow  citizens  he  was  regarded  as  a  secret  Tory, 
and  he  was  openly  accused  of  trafficking  with  the  enemy,  though 
no  satisfactory  proof  of  the  charge  appears  to  have  been  produced. 
The  doubt  of  his  integrity  outlasted  his  day,  and  he  is  now  his- 
torically represented  as  a  Tory,  and  in  recent  years  has  been 
branded  as  a  double-dyed  traitor,  who  served  both  sides,  betrayed 
and  sold  the  secrets  of  each  to  the  other,  and  was  actively  engaged 
in  a  scheme  to  corrupt  one  of  the  prominent  officers  of  the  Ameri- 
can Army.  He  was  frequently  within  the  British  lines  under 
flags  of  truce,  and  evidently  had  ample  opportunities  for  learning 
(and  divulging,  if  he  so  desired),  the  secrets  of  either  side. 

Sabine  says  of  him,  that  on  Sept.  4,  1780,  he  went  into  the 
British  lines  under  a  flag,  and  while  there  gave  information  to  the 
royal  officers,  being  at  this  very  time  in  the  office  of  public  accounts 
and  possessing  the  confidence  of  the  Whigs.  In  this  information, 
which  was  apparently  quite  voluminous,  Heron  is  represented  as 
stating  that  he  "  was  ever  an  enemy  to  the  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence, but  he  said  nothing,  except  to  the  most  trusty  Loyalists," 
and  further,  that  he  was  favorably  known  to  the  officers  of  the 
Continental  Army,  "  and  is  not  suspected." 

Mr.  C.  B.  Todd  makes  Heron  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the 
Redding  Tories,  and  an  open  champion  of  the  royal  cause.  But 
when  we  consider  the  severity  with  which  the  active  Tories  were 
treated  such  an  attitude  seems  impossible.  Had  he  been  an  avowed 
Tory  he  could  not  have  commanded  public  confidence,  nor  enjoyed 
public  favor,  but  must  have  submitted  to  enforced  retirement,  or 
ultimately  suffered  exile.  However  favorable  to  the  royal  cause 


his  sentiments  may  have  been  he  always  maintained  a  judicious 
silence  in  regard  to  them,  and  never  entirely  lost  the  confidence  of 
the  Whigs. 

The  discovery,  in  1882,  of  "A  Record  of  Private  Intelligence," 
kept  at  the  headquarters  of  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  the  British 
commander  at  New  York  in  i/Si,  brought  to  light  certain  letters 
which  passed  from  William  Heron  to  Major  Oliver  Delancey,  the 
British  adjutant-general.  Upon  the  contents  of  these  letters  is 
based  the  charge  of  treachery  and  double-dealing  advanced  in  the 
paper  of  Mr.  J.  G.  Woodward,  read  before  the  Connecticut  His- 
torical Society  in  1896.  The  author's  conclusions,  as  drawn  from 
the  evidence  before  him,  are  that  Heron  was  a  perfidious  creature, 
who,  while  still  active  in  the  councils  of  the  patriots,  was,  for 
purposes  of  personal  gain,  acting  as  a  paid  spy  in  the  British 
service,  and  attempting  to  extort  money  from  the  royal  authorities 
in  a  pretended  effort  to  bring  over  to  the  British  side  a  prominent 
American  officer,  Gen.  S.  H.  Parsons  of  the  Conn.  Line. 

A  letter  from  Gen.  Parsons  to  Gen.  Washington,  dated  April 
6,  1782  (quoted  by  Mr.  Woodward),  gives  us  what  is  probably  the 
most  faithful  portraiture  of  Heron  we  are  ever  likely  to  have,  as 
well  as  the  best  evidence  that  can  be  produced  in  his  behalf.  Gen. 
Parsons  wrote:  ...  I  forgot  to  mention  the  name  of  Mr. 
William  Heron  of  Redding,  who  has  for  several  years  had  oppor- 
tunities of  informing  himself  of  the  state  of  the  enemy,  their  de- 
signs, and  intentions,  with  more  certainty  and  precision  than  most 
men  who  have  been  employed.  .  .  .  He  is  a  native  of  Ireland, 
a  man  of  very  large  knowledge,  and  a  great  share  of  natural  sa- 
gacity, united  with  a  sound  judgment;  but  of  as  unmeaning  a 
countenance  as  any  person  in  my  acquaintance.  With  this  appear- 
ance he  is  as  little  suspected  as  any  man  can  be.  An  officer  in  the 
department  of  the  adjutant-general  is  a  countryman  and  very 
intimate  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Heron,  through  which  channel  he 
has  been  able  frequently  to  obtain  important  and  very  interesting 
intelligence.  .  .  .  He  has  frequently  brought  me  the  most  ac- 
curate descriptions  of  the  posts  occupied  by  the  enemy,  and  more 
rational  accounts  of  their  numbers,  strength,  and  designs  than  I 
have  been  able  to  obtain  in  any  other  way. 

As  to  his  character,  I  know  him  to  be  a  consistent,  national 
Whig;  he  is  always  in  the  field  in  every  alarm,  and  has  in  every 
trial  proved  himself  a  man  of  bravery.  He  has  a  family  and  a 
considerable  interest  in  the  state,  and  from  the  beginning  of  the 
war  has  invariably  followed  the  measures  of  the  country.  .  .  . 
In  opposition  to  this,  his  enemies  suggest  that  he  carries  on  illicit 
trade  with  the  enemy,  but  I  have  lived  two  years  [  ?]  the  next  door 


192 

to  him,  and  am  fully  convinced  he  has  never  had  a  single  article 
of  any  kind  for  sale  during  that  time.  ...  I  know  many  per- 
sons of  more  exalted  character  are  also  accused,  none  more  than 
Governor  Trumbull,  nor  with  less  reason.  I  believe  the  governor 
and  Mr.  Heron  as  clear  of  this  business  as  I  am,  and  I  know 
myself  to  be  totally  free  from  everything  which  has  the  least  con- 
nection with  that  commerce." 

Whether  Heron  was  actually  the  Judas-like  character  repre- 
sented may  never  be  satisfactorily  determined.  The  evidence  pre- 
sented does  not  seem  sufficient  to  enable  us  to  form  a  just  estimate 
of  his  personal  integrity.  Although  his  correspondence  with  De- 
lancey  appears  to  convict  him  of  a  dishonorable  purpose,  it  is  not 
wholly  improbable  that  it  was  conducted  in  furtherance  of  some 
plan  for  ingratiating  himself  more  thoroughly  into  the  confidence 
of  the  British  authorities. 

But  it  is  at  least  made  clear  that  Heron  was  a  secret  service 
agent  in  the  employ  of  civil  or  military  authority  —  engaged  in  an 
occupation  in  which  the  means  employed,  whatever  they  may  be, 
are  generally  considered  to  be  justified  by  the  end  desired;  in 
which,  also,  it  is  often  necessary  that  the  spy  shall  successfully 
mislead  his  friends,  in  order  that  he  may  the  more  completely 
deceive  his  enemies;  and  in  which,  as  an  inevitable  consequence, 
he  must  fall  under  suspicion  among  such  of  his  own  party  as  are 
unacquainted  with  his  true  character  and  motives.  Suspicion 
is  rife  in  times  of  war,  and  others  besides  Heron,  engaged  in 
similar  service,  were  branded  with  'a  stigma  which  it  was  often 
found  difficult  to  remove.  A  few  cases  may  be  cited  in  illustration : 

Sergeant-Major  Champe  of  Lee's  Legion,  at  the  request  of  his 
commanding  officer,  deserted  from  the  American  camp,  and  at  the 
imminent  peril  of  his  life,  made  his  way  into  the  British  lines  for 
the  purpose  of  effecting  the  capture  of  Arnold,  and  no  doubt  as 
to  his  intended  treachery  existed  in  the  minds  of  his  comrades 
until  his  unexpected  return  to  camp  and  duty  dispelled  that  belief. 
Sergeant  Daniel  Bissell  of  Windsor,  sent  within  the  British  lines 
for  the  purpose  of  gaining  information  and  officially  proclaimed  a 
deserter  in  furtherance  of  his  object,  was  unable  either  to  fully 
carry  out  his  instructions  or  to  return  to  the  American  camp,  and 
was  obliged  to  enroll  himself  in  the  enemy's  service  and  remain 
virtually  a  prisoner  for  thirteen  months.  Although  his  character 
was  afterward  fully  vindicated,  he  suffered  annoyance  in  a  Her 
years  from  imputations  of  disloyalty.  Enoch  Crosby  of  Danbury, 
one  of  the  most  active  of  the  patriot  spies,  was  doubted  by  both 
parties.  Heron,  though  less  exposed,  was  not  more  fortunate  in 
disarming  suspicion. 


193 

Further  inquiry  of  this  man's  personality  reveals  little.  Doubt- 
less he  possessed  natural  qualifications  for  his  peculiar  task  —  a 
talent  for  intrigue,  a  deeply  secretive  nature.  The  "  unmeaning 
countenance "  never  betrayed  the  secrets  it  masked.  The  oft- 
repeated  remark  attributed  to  him  — "  We  must  keep  down  the 
underbrush "  —  applied  to  his  humbler  fellow  men,  reveals  his 
aristocratic  tendency,  and  the  probable  source  of  much  unfriendli- 
ness toward  him,  which  would  naturally  tend  to  keep  alive  reports 
unfavorable  to  his  reputation.  A  desire  for  worldly  gain  is  also 
indicated  —  he  was  a  thrifty  citizen.  He  was  respected  by  the 
best  people  of  the  community ;  one  of  his  daughters  married  a  son 
of  his  old  opponent  Judge  Sanford.  Whether  he  cleared  his  name 
from  imputations  of  dishonor,  or,  disdaining  concessions  to  popular 
opinion,  left  his  case  to  the  judgment  of  posterity  cannot  be  told, 
but  it  may  be  an  appeal  from  the  biased  judgment  of  his  country- 
men to  the  bar  of  eternal  justice  that  is  graven  beneath  his  name 
on  the  tall  slab  which  marks  his  resting-place  in  Christ  Church 
Yard: 

In  Memory  of 

WILLIAM    HERON  Esq. 
who  was  born  in  the  City  of  Cork,  Ireland,  1742, 

and  died  Jan.  8,  1819. 

"  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,  and  that 
he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth." 

Ample  material  for  the  study  of  the  career  of  Heron  and  other 
secret  service  agents  of  the  Revolution  may  be  found  in  Sabine's 
"American  Loyalists,"  Thacher's  "  Military  Journal,"  Todd's  "  His- 
tory of  Redding,"  Bailey's  "  History  of  Danbury,"  Stiles'  "Ancient 
Windsor,"  J.  G.  Woodward's  "  Examination  of  the  Charge  of 
Treason  against  Gen.  S.  H.  Parsons,"  Spencer's  Hist,  of  the  U.  S., 
v.  2,  bk.  3,  p.  102. 

HILL,  CAPT.  DANIEL.     1726-1805. 

Born  Jan.  26,  1726.     Son-in-law  of  Rev.  John  Beach. 

Capt.  Daniel  Hill  commanded  the  nth  (east  side)  company  of 
the  4th  Militia  Regt.  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  and,  with 
his  subaltern  officers,  endeavored  to  prevent  the  detaching  of 
troops  from  his  command  for  the  defense  of  New  York  in  1776. 
The  charge  against  these  officers  is  annexed: 

"  Whereas  information  has  been  given  to  the  Assembly  that  Capt. 
Daniel  Hill,  Lieut.  Peter  Lyon,  and  Ensign  Samuel  Hawley,  all  of  the 
nth  company  in  the  fourth  regiment  in  this  Colony  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gold  Selleck  Silliman  Esqr,  colonel  of  said  regiment,  have 


194 

instead  of  forwarding,  as  it  was  their  duty  to  do  endeavored  to  obstruct 
and  embarrass,  and  have  in  fact  neglected  and  refused  to  obey  certain 
orders  given  out  to  said  officers  by  said  colonel  in  pursuance  of  orders 
from  the  Governor,  the  Captain  General,  sometime  in  March  last,  for 
the  purpose  of  inlisting  or  detaching  a  certain  number  in  said  company 
to  march  for  New  York,  which  orders  said  officers  have  severally 
contemptuously  disobeyed  and  greatly  obstructed  the  execution  thereof : 
Whereupon  this  Assembly  order  and  decree,  that  a  precept  be  issued 
forth  by  the  Secretary  of  this  Colony  immediately,  to  arrest  the  bodies 
of  them  the  said  Daniel  Hill,  Peter  Lyon  and  Samuel  Hawley  re- 
spectively, and  them  have  before  this  Assembly  to  answer  to  the  said 
information  and  further  dealt  with  as  to  justice  appertains,  and  that 
Colo.  Silliman  with  other  proper  evidences  be  also  cited  to  appear." 

[Rec.  State  Conn.  1777,  v.  i,  p.  427.] 

The  records  further  state: 

"Upon  the  complaint  of  General  Syllyman  against  sundry  military 
companies  and  military  officers  in  the  county  of  Fairfield  for  dis- 
obedience &c  ...  it  is  resolved  by  this  Assembly  .  .  .  that  the 
east  military  company  in  the  town  of  Redding  be  and  the  same  is 
hereby  dissolved,  and  annexed  to  the  west  military  company  in  said 
town  .  .  .  and  that  Daniel  Hill  of  Reading  .  .  .  also  pay  the 
cost  arisen  in  the  premises  alowed  to  be  two  pounds  one  shilling  and 
six  pence.  .  .  .  and  that  execution  issue  for  the  same.'-' 

[Rec.  State  Conn.  1777  —  v  I,  p  427.] 

Being  in  this  manner  deprived  of  both  rank  and  command  Capt. 
Hill  offered  no  further  resistance  to  the  patriots  but  remained  a 
passive  spectator  of  events  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  died  July 
n,  1805,  and  is  buried  in  Christ  Church  Yard. 

HILL,  ERSKINE.1 

HILL,  EZEKIEL.     See  vote  of  the  town  Jan.  8,  1781. 

HOYT,  JAMES.1 

HOYT,  SAMUEL,  JR.1 

JACKSON,  PETER.1 

JARVIS,  SAMUEL.2 

"  Mr.  Samuel  Jarvis  of  Redding,  Conn,  came  to  Amenia  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  century.  .  .  .  He  was  of  an  English  family  of 
good  standing,  many  of  whom  adhered  to  the  royal  side  in  the  Revo- 
lution. It  was  a  brother  of  Mr.  Jarvis,  who  led  the  British  into 
Danbury  when  they  burnt  it,  and  who,  after  the  war,  went  to  Canada, 
and  entered  into  the  service  of  the  crown." 

[Early  History  of  Amenia,  N.  Y.] 


195 
JUDD,  JONATHAN.1 

JUDD,  SAMUEL.1     Father  of  the  others. 
JUDD,  SAMUEL,  JR.1 
JUDD,  WILLIAM.1 

KANE,  BARNARD.1 

Entered  the  service  of  the  crown  and  became  a  captain  in  the 
New  York  Volunteers. 

KEELER,  BARNHARD.2     1761-1827. 

A  British  soldier,  said  to  have  deserted  from  Tryon's  column 
in  the  Danbury  Expedition.  Generally  spoken  of  as  a  Hessian, 
though  no  Hessians  are  known  to  have  accompanied  the  British. 
He  settled  in  Redding,  married  Sarah  Clugston  Jan.  i,  1793,  and 
left  descendants.  Known  to  later  generations  as  "  Uncle  Barney  " 
Keeler.  Died  March  5,  1827.  Buried  at  Umpawaug. 

KELLOGG,  EZRA.1 

KNAPP,  ANDREW. 

KNAPP,  DAVID.     See  town  vote  Feb.  5,  1781. 

KNAPP,  DAVID  (JR.?). 

Thought  to  be  the  son  of  the  preceding.  In  1782  Knapp  was 
at  New  York,  a  Loyalist  Associator  enrolled  for  settlement  at 
Shelburne,  Nova  Scotia,  in  the  following  year,  with  a  family  of 
two  persons.  At  the  peace  he  went  from  New  York  to  Shelburne, 
where  the  crown  granted  him  50  acres  of  land,  one  town  and  one 
water  lot.  His  losses  sustained  in  consequence  of  his  loyalty  were 
estimated  at  £230. 

KNAPP,  JONATHAN. 

Fled  to  Long  Island  in  1776. 

KNAPP,  MOSES.1 

LACY,  STEPHEN. 

This  man  fled  to  Long  Island  in  1776,  and  the^act  was  com- 
municated to  Washington. 

LAYNE,  JOHN.     [Lane.] 


196 

LEE,  ENOS.     See  vote  of  the  town  Feb.  5,  1781. 
Died  April  25,  1796. 

LEE,  ENOS   (JR.)     See   Beach,   Lazarus.     See   also   town   vote 
Feb.  5,  1781. 

[It  is  not  definitely  known  which  of  the  above  signed  the  As- 
sociation.] 

LEE,  JOHN.'    1749-1813. 

Was  appointed  administrator  of  his  father's  estate  (about 
1796).  Probably  living  in  Redding  at  that  time.  Died  Feb.  22, 
1813,  at  Roxbury,  N.  Y. 

LEE,  NATHAN.     See  Beach,  Lazarus. 

LEE,  NATHANIEL.     May  be  identical  with  Nathan. 

LEE,  NEHEMIAH.1 

LEE,  SILAS. 

LEE,  WILLIAM. 

LYON,  AARON.2 

Fled  to  Long  Island  in  17/6  and  the  fact  was  communicated  to 
Washington. 

LYON,  LIEUT.  DANIEL.     See  vote  of  the  town  Feb.  5,  1781. 

LYON,  DANIEL,  3d.12 

Fled  to  Long  Island  in  1776  and  the  fact  was  communicated  to 
Washington. 

LYON,  EBENEZER.1 
LYON,  ELI. 

LYON,  EZEKIEL. 

Fled  to  Long  Island  in  1776  and  the  fact  was  communicated  to 
Washington. 

LYON,  GERSHOM,  JR.1 

LYON,  JABEZ. 

Died  Oct.  20,  1777. 


197 

LYON,  JESSE.1 

LYON,  JOHN. 

John  Lyon  was  a  farmer  who  owned  about  100  acres  of  land  in 
Redding,  part  of  which  he  had  inherited  from  his  father.  Upon 
this  property  he  had  two  houses,  one  of  which  was  rented  for  £4 
a  year.  He  had  also  a  half-interest  in  a  schooner,  and  appears  to 
have  been  an  energetic  and  successful  business  man.  In  his 
memorial  to  the  British  government  he  states  that  from  the  first 
he  favored  the  royal  authority,  and  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost 
in  its  behalf,  even  at  the  hazard  of  his  life;  and  at  an  early  period 
was  under  banishment  through  fear  of  the  rebels  to  whom  he  made 
himself  obnoxious  by  signing  the  "  Reading  Resolves "  against 
Congress  and  Committees,  which  document  he  personally  carried 
to  Rivington,  the  king's  printer  at  New  York,  at  the  request  of 
other  signers  of  the  instrument,  who  authorized  its  publication. 
As  early  as  March,  1775,  he  was  seized  by  a  mob,  ill-treated,  and 
robbed.  It  was  perhaps  at  this  time  that  his  merchandise  at  Mill 
River,  valued  at  £500,  was  also  seized,  but  this  he  afterward  re- 
covered. He  was  finally  obliged  to  fly  to  the  British  lines  for 
protection,  reaching  them  in  May  or  June,  1776,  being  the  first 
man  from  Redding  to  join  the  British.  He  entered  the  military 
service  of  the  crown  and  served  as  a  volunteer  one  year,  assisted 
in  raising  the  Loyalist  regiment  known  as  the  King's  Rangers, 
under  warrant  from  Col.  Robert  Rogers,  the  commander  of  the 
regiment;  obtained  22  recruits  for  this  corps  in  Fairfield  County, 
and  also  acted  as  guide  during  the  war.  Major  Upham  testified 
to  his  services  and  loyalty.  At  the  peace  he  left  New  York  with 
the  first  fleet,  embarking  in  the  transport  Union  April  n,  1783, 
with  his  wife  and  two  sons,  Reuben  and  John,  Jr.,  and  settled  at 
Kingston,  Nova  Scotia,  on  a  small  bay  out  of  Bellisle  Bay.  He 
was  a  vestryman  of  the  first  Episcopal  church  established  in 
Kingston. 

For  several  months  after  Lyon's  disappearance  from  Redding 
no  legal  action  was  taken  against  him,  but  within  a  year  entries 
of  proceedings  began  to  appear  in  the  files  of  the  County  Court : 

Fairfield.     April  County  Court  A  D  1777. 

"  On  an  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding 
to  the  Adj.  County  Court  held  at  Fairfield  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
March  A  D  1777  —  Showing  that  there  is  real  Estate  lying  in  Redding 
that  Belongs  to  John  Lyon  of  said  Redding  who  has  put  &  continues 
to  hold  &  screen  himself  under  the  protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army 
said  Adjd  County  Court  ordered  a  Writ  According  to  Law  to  seize 


198 

&  hold  said  Real  Estate  as  P  Writ  dated  March  ioth  1777  may  appear. 
The  delinquent  Lyon  was  called  at  this  Court  and  made  default  of 
appearance.  Whereupon  this  Court  having  considered  the  Evidences 
relative  to  the  sd  Lyon  screening  himself  as  aforesaid,  do  order  & 
direct  that  the  Real  Estate  of  the  said  Lyon  according  to  the  Consta- 
ble's return  on  said  Writ  be  leased  for  the  benefit  of  this  State  and 
for  that  purpose  Mr.  Ephraim  Robbins  of  sd  Redding  is  appointed 
by  this  Court." 

This  was  immediately  followed  by  seizure  of  goods  and  chattels : 
i 

"  On  an  information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  County,  Shewing  to  Lemuel  Sanford  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  said  County  that  there  are  goods  Chatties  and  effects  in  sd  Red- 
ding that  belong  to  John  Lyon  of  said  Redding  who  has  joined  the 
Ministerial  Army  &  screened  himself  under  them,  said  Justice  issued 
this  Writ  according  to  Law  to  seize  &  hold  the  goods  chattels  & 
effects  of  the  sd  Lyon  as  Pr  writ  &  Complaint  dated  March  28th  A  D 
1777.  Said  Lyon  was  called  at  this  court  and  made  'default  of  ap- 
pearance. This  Court  having  heard  the  evidences  relative  to  the  sd 
Lyon's  screening  himself  as  aforesaid,  &  Considered  thereof,  do  order 
&  direct  that  the  Goods  Chatties  &  effects  of  the  sd  Lyon  according  to 
the  Constable's  return  on  said  Writ  &  Complaint  be  forfeited  to  the 
Use  and  benefit  of  this  State  and  y*  they  be  fold  according  to  law. 

Execution  granted,  Apl  18,  1777." 

Forfeiture  of  estate  was  decreed  about  a  year  and  a  half  later : 

"  Whereas  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in  Fairfield 
County  did  Inform  John  Read  Sqr  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  said 
County  that  there  is  Estate  in  said  Redding  which  belongs  to  John 
Lyon  of  said  Redding  who  has  Joined  —  put  &  continues  to  hold 
himself  under  the  protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  said  Lyon 
was  summoned  to  appear  at  this  Court  to  shew  Reafon  why  his  said 
Estate  should  not  be  Declared  Forfeit  &c  As  Pr  Writ  on  file  Dated 
Octr  13th  A  D  1778  P  Adjournment  —  the  faid  Lyon  was  called  at 
this  Court  &  made  Def1  of  Appearance.  Thereupon  this  Court 'hav- 
ing Considered  the  Evidence  Relative  to  the  sd  Lyon's  Joining  him- 
self as  aforesaid  do  order  that  the  Estate  of  said  Lyon  be  &  the  same 
is  hereby  declared  Forfeit  to  &  for  the.ufe  and  Benefit  of  this  State, 
&  that  the  same  be  Further  Dealt  with  According  to  Law." 

The  estate  was  sold  accordingly.  Stephen  Betts  bought  part. 
William  Heron  bought  one  of  the  houses. 

Lyon's  losses  in  lands,  houses,  stock,  furniture,  shipping  inter- 
ests, etc.,  he  estimated  at  £1,790:14:6.  He  presented  claims  to 
about  this  amount  and  was  allowed  £290  in  satisfaction  thereof. 

LYON,  JONATHAN.1 


199 

LYON,  JOSEPH.1 

Joseph  Lyon,  a  brother  of  John,  was  a  farmer  and  a  resident  of 
Fairfield,  but  owned  about  150  acres  of  land  in  Redding,  which 
was  confiscated  because  of  his  adherence  to  the  royal  cause.  Of 
this  about  35  acres  was  left  him  by  his  father's  will  in  1750;  the 
remainder  he  purchased  at  various  times  from  Henry  Lyon,  Peter 
Lyon,  Hez.  and  Isaac  Osborne,  and  David  Whitlock.  He  was 
always  a  warm  friend  of  Great  Britain,  and  refused  to  sign  an 
association  with  the  Whigs,  and  was  therefore  publicly  advertised 
as  an  enemy  to  America,  as  were  all  others  who  refused  to  sign. 
In  1775  he  signed  a  protest  against  the  proceedings  of  Congress, 
pledging  himself  to  oppose  such  proceedings.  In  consequence  of 
his  acts  of  loyalty  he  was  much  persecuted;  was  at  one  time  very 
ill-treated  by  a  mob,  and  was  obliged  to  secrete  himself.  On  one 
occasion  he,  with  Ephraim  Deforest,  was  hidden  in  the  woods  for 
thirty-three  days,  and  while  in  hiding  Lyon  built  a  cave  for  per- 
secuted Loyalists.  He  found  no  opportunity  to  escape  to  the 
British  lines  till  April,  1777,  when  Tryon's  Expedition  marched 
through  the  town,  and  he  joined  it,  and  returned  with  it  to  New 
York,  where  he  entered1  the  regiment  known  as  the  Associated 
loyalists,  served  as  guide  under  General  Tryon  at  Fairfield 
(1779?),  and  on  several  occasions  afterward  as  volunteer  at 
Lloyd's  Neck.  In  April,  1783,  he  removed  to  Kingston,  N.  S., 
in  the  transport  Union,  and  was  appointed  one  of  the  wardens  of 
the  first  Episcopal  church  established  in  that  settlement.  His  land 
in  Redding  was  advertised  and  sold,  and  his  total  losses  in  lands, 
stock,  tools,  and  furniture  he  estimated  at  £1,150,  for  which  claim 
the  British  government  allowed  him  £524. 

LYON,  LIEUT.  PETER. 

Lieut.  Peter  Lyon  was  one  of  the  officers  of  the  east  side  mili- 
tary company  who  endeavored  to  prevent  the  detaching  of  soldiers 
for  the  defense  of  New  York  in  1776.  He  went  over  to  the  enemy, 
and  proceedings  were  begun  against  his  estate : 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  County  showing  the  Adj'd  County  Court  held  at  Fairfield 
in  and  for  said  County  the  Ist  Tuesday  of  March  1777  —  That  their 
is  Real  Estate  Lying  in  Redding  which  Belongs  to  Peter  Lyon  of 
said  Redding  who  has  put  and  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen  himself 
under  the  Protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  A  Writ  was  Ifsued 
out  by  order  of  said  Court  to  Seize  and  to  hold  said  Estate,  and  to  be 
dealt  with  According  to  Law  —  the  said  Lyon  was  Called  at  this 
Court  and  made  Default  of  Appearance  —  This  Court  having  Con- 
sidered the  Evidence  Relative  to  said  Lyon's  Screening  himself  As 


2OO 

aforesaid  —  Do  Order  that  the  Real  Estate  of  said  Lyon  According 
to  the  Officer's  Return  on  said  writ  be  leafed  out  for  the  ufe  and 
Benefit  of  this  State  —  and  for  that  purpose  this  Court  has  appointed 
Thad3  Benedict  —  Redding." 

Execution  was  then  granted  on  his  chattels; 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  County  Shewing  to  Lemuel  Sanford  Esqr  Justice  of  the 
peace  for  said  County  that  there  is  Goods  Chatties  and  Effects  in  said 
Redding  which  belongs  to  Peter  Lyon  of  said  Redding  —  who  has 
put  and  Continues  to  hold  &  Screen  himself  under  the  Protection  of 
the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  said  Justice  Ifsued  his  Writ  Dated  March 
28th  1777  —  To  Seize  &  to  hold  said  Estate  —  and  to  be  Dealt  with 
According  to  Law  —  The  said  Lyon  was  Called  at  this  Court,  and 
made  Default  of  Appearance  —  This  Court  having  Considered  the 
Evidence  Relative  to  said  Lyon's  Screening  himself  As  aforesaid  — 
Do  order  and  Direct  that  the  Goods  &  Effects  of  the  said  Lyon,  Ac- 
cording to  the  Officer's  Return  on  said  Writ  be  forfeited  to  the  ufe 
and  Benefit  of  this  State,  and  that  they  be  sold  According  to  Law  — 
and  that  Execn  be  granted  &c  — 

Execn  Grand  Dec.  ioth  1777." 

No  record  of  forfeiture  of  real  estate  is  found.  Lieut.  Lyon 
died  (perhaps  in  the  British  service)  some  time  previous  to  Feb. 
5,  1781,  at  which  time  the  town  refused  to  abate  the  assessment 
for  recruiting  purposes  levied  upon  the  property  of  his  widow. 

LYON,  THOMAS.1 

MALLERY,  JOHN.     See  Rev.  Soldiers. 

MALLERY,  JONATHAN,  JR. 

Lyon's  list  of  signers  has  "  John  Jr."  —  perhaps  identical  with 
"  Jonathan,  Jr." 

MALLERY,  NATHAN,  JR.1 
MANROW,  DAVID.     [Munroe.] 
MANROW,  WILLIAM.     See  Rev.  Soldiers. 

McNEIL,  CHARLES. 

Went  over  to  the  enemy  and  served  as  Captain-Lieutenant  in 
the  Prince  of  Wales  American  Volunteers. 

MCNEIL,  NEIL. 

The  name  of  Neil  McNeil  frequently  appears  in  the  court 
records  in  actions  for  book  debt,  brought  against  him  by  one 


2OI 

Manuel  Myers  of  New  York.  He  was  perhaps  a  merchant,  whose 
trade  suffered  because  of  the  state  of  the  times  and  his  political 
affiliations.  Is  probably  the  same  man  who  led  a  company  of 
Loyalists  to  Annapolis,  N.  S.,  and  settled  there. 

MEEKER,  EPHRAIM. 

MEEKER,  JONATHAN.     1733-1813. 

Died  Jan.  17,  1813.  •  Buried  in  Christ  Church  Yard. 

MILLS,  EBENEZER.1 

MOREHOUSE,  DANIEL.     1758-1835. 

This  man  is  believed  to  be  the  same  of  whom  Sabine  says: 
"  He  became  an  officer  in  the  Queen's  Rangers,  and  retired  at  the 
close  of  the  war  on  half  pay.  He  went  to  New  Brunswick,  and 
was  a  magistrate,  and  a  major  in  the  militia.  He  died  in  the 
County  of  York,  in  1835,  aged  77." 

MOREHOUSE,  JOHN.1     1751-1839. 

Probably  the  man  Who  "  settled  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  at  his 
decease  was  one  of  the  oldest  magistrates  in  the  colony.  He  died 
on  Digby  Neck,  in  1839."  [Sabine.] 

MORGAN,  CAPT.  JAMES.     See  town  votes  Feb.  5^19,  1781. 

MUNGER,  CAPT.  SIMEON.     1752-1833. 

Simeon  Munger  was  evidently  an  estimable  citizen,  whose 
sentiments,  though  favorable  to  the  crown,  were  not  actively  dis- 
played during  the  Revolution.  After  its  close  he  became  popular 
in  public  life,  and  represented  the  town  in  the  General  Assembly 
for  fifteen  sessions:  October,  1793;  May-October,  1797;  May, 
1798;  May-October,  1799;  May,  1800;  October,  1801-04-05;  May- 
October,  1806;  May,  1807;  October,  1808-15. 

Died  Oct.  21,  1833.     Buried  in  Christ  Church  Yard. 

MUNSON,  THOMAS. 
NORTON,  DR.  ASA. 
OLMSTED,  ELEAZER. 

PATCHEN,  ANDREW. 

A  resident  of  Redding  and  a  signer  of  the  "  Resolves,"  who 
was  obliged  to  quit  home  soon  after  signing  that  document.     He 
13 


2O2 

went  first  to  Johnstown  (?)  in  1775,  and  from  there  to  Long 
Island,  and  removed  his  effects  there.  The  Conn.  Committee  of 
Safety  attempted  to  capture  him,  but  he  secreted  himself,  and  in 
August,  1776,  was  obliged  to  fly  for  protection  to  Gen.  Howe  on 
Staten  Island.  Here  he  entered  the  company  of  Guides  [Guides 
and  Pioneers?],  and  was  immediately  employed  by -Sir  William 
Howe  to  carry  dispatches  and  warrants  for  raising  men  to  the 
Loyalists  throughout  Long  Island.  He  was  finally  taken  prisoner, 
carried  to  Seabrooke  [Saybrook?]  and  tried  for  his  life,  was 
acquitted,  but  kept  in  confinement  till  January,  1777,  when  he 
escaped  and  joined  Col.  Fanning's  corps  [King's  American  Regi- 
ment] on  Long  Island,  and  continued  in  service.  In  October, 
1777,  he  lost  his  cattle  and  sheep  on  Long  Island,  captured  by  a 
party  under  Capt.  Ebenezer  Deighton.  For  more  than  two  years 
he  was  employed-  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  on  secret  service  in  Con- 
necticut and  elsewhere.  When  the  French  fleet  came  in  1778 
he  tried  to  remove  his  effects  from  Brookhaven,  L.  I.,  to  New  York. 
For  this  purpose  he  obtained  a  pass  from  Gen.  Tryon  and  Col. 
Fanning  in  April,  and  in  May  following  placed  his  goods  on  board 
John  Ming's  sloop  for  removal,  paying  $32  for  the  service,  and 
while  lying  at  Fire  Island  Inlet,  South  Bay,  ready  to  go  out  in  the 
morning  he  and  his  vessel  were  captured  by  a  whaleboat  party 
under  Capt.  Ebenezer  Deighton  (probably)  and  carried  to  New 
London.  Patchen's  effects,  —  provisions,  furniture,  clothing,  etc., 
—  were  inventoried  by  one  of  Capt.  Deighton's  sergeants,  and 
afterward  sold  at  vendue.  Patchen  himself  was  finally  exchanged, 
returned  to  Long  Island,  and  served  in  the  King's  American  Regi- 
ment till  discharged  by  Gen.  Carleton  Sept.  19,  1781,  and  during 
the  following  year  was  employed  by  the  general  in  secret  service 
in  Connecticut  and  elsewhere.  He  left  New  York  with  the  first 
fleet  in  April,  1783,  and  settled  at  Kingston,  Nova  Scotia,  obtain- 
ing his  lands  there  in  August  of  that  year.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  Kingston. 

Mr.  Patchen  estimated  the  value  of  the  live  stock  lost  on  Long 
Island  at  £68,  and  his  loss  on  household  furniture  and  provisions 
at  £208,  a  total  of  £276.  He  presented  claims  for  £170,  and  was 
allowed  £40  thereon. 

PATCHEN,  ASAEL. 
PERCY,  EZRA.     [Perry?] 
PICKET,  JOHN.     [Pickwit.] 
PICKET,  JOHN,  JR. 


203 

PICKET,  NATHANIEL.1 
PLATT,  ABEL.1 

PLATT,  HEZEKIAH.     See  town  votes  Feb.  5-19,  1781. 
PLATT,  ISAAC.     See  Rev.  Soldiers. 
PLATT,  JOSEPH.1     See  Rev.  Soldiers. 
PLATT,  JOSIAH.1 

PLATT,  OBADIAH. 

See  note  to  Lyon's  list  of  signers  of  the  Association. 

PLATT,  TIMOTHY. 

PLATT,  ZEBULON.     See  town  vote  Feb.  19,  1781. 

RAYMOND,  JOHN. 

READ,  DANIEL. 

One  Daniel  Read  was  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Zalmon  Read's  com- 
pany, 5th  Regt.  Conn.  Line,  in  the  Northern  Campaign,  being  dis- 
charged from  service  Nov.  28,  1775.  The  name  does  not  appear 
again  in  the  military  records  of  the  state,  and  it  seems  evident  that 
this  man  became  disaffected  and  went  over  to  the  enemy,  for- 
feiting his  property  in  consequence  of  this  action,  as  shown  by  the 
records  annexed : 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  County  shewing  to  the  Adj'd  County  Court  held  at  Fairfield 
in  and  for  [said]  County  on  the  Ist  Tuesday  of  March  1777  —  That 
there  is  Real  Estate  Lying  in  said  Redding  which  Belongs  to  Daniel 
Read  of  said  Redding  who  has  put  and  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen 
himself  under  the  protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  A  Writ 
was  Ifsued  out  by  Order  of  said  Court  Dated  March  ioth  1777  —  To 
Seize  and  to  Hold  said  Estate  and  to  be  Dealt  with  According  to 
I^aw  —  the  said  Read  was  Called  at  this  Court  made  Default  of  Ap- 
pearance —  This  Court  have  Considered  the  Evidence  Relative  to 
said  Read's  Screening  himself  As  aforesaid,  Do  order  that  the  Real 
Estate  of  said  Read  According  to  the  Officer's  Return  on  said  Writ 
be  Leafed  out  for  the  ufe  and  Benefit  of  this  State  and  for  that  pur- 
pose of  this  Court  has  appointed  Thaddeus  Benedict  —  Redding." 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  Co. —  Shewing  to  Lemuel  Sanford  Esqr  —  Justice  of  the 
peace  for  said  County  —  that  there  are  Goods  Chatties  &  Effects  in 


204 

said  Redding  which  Belongs  to  Daniel  Read  of  said  Redding  who 
has  put  and  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen  himself  under  the  Pro- 
tection of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  said  Justice  Ifsued  a  Writ 
Dated  March  28th  1777  —  To  Seize  and  to  hold  said  Estate  and  to  be 
Dealt  with  According  to  Law  —  the  said  Read  was  Called  at  this 
Court  —  and  made  Default  of  Appearance  —  This  Court  having  Con- 
sidered the  Evidence  Relative  to  said  Read's  Screening  himself  As 
aforesaid  to  Order  that  the  Goods  &  Effects  of  the  said  Read  accord- 
ing to  the  Officer's  Return  on  said  Writ  be  forfeited  for  the  use  and 
Benefit  of  this  State  —  and  that  they  be  sold  According  to  Law  and 
that  Execn  be  Grand  &c. 

Excn  Grand  Dec.  ioth  1777." 

"  Whereas  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in  Fairfield 
County  did  Inform  John  Read  Esqr  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  said 
County  — that  there  is  Estate  in  said  Redding  which  Belongs  to  Daniel 
Read  lately  of  said  Redding  —  who  has  gone  over  to,  put  Joined  & 
Continues  to  hold  &  Screen  himself  under  the  Protection  of  the 
Enemies  of  the  United  States  of  America,  said  Read  was  summon'd 
to  appear  at  this  Court,  to  show  Reafon  why  his  said  Estate  should 
not  be  Declared  Forfeit  &c  As  P  Writ  on  file  Dated  Oct.  15,  1778  P 
Adjournment,  the  said  Read  was  called  at  this  Court,  &  made  De- 
fault of  Appearance.  Thereupon  this  Court  having  Considered  the 
Evidence  Relative  to  said  Read's  Screening  himself  As  Aforsaid,  Do 
order  &  Direct  that  the  Estate  of  said  Read  be  Forfeited  to  &  for 
the  ufe  &  Benefit  of  this  State  &  that  the  fame  be  Further  Dealt  with 
According  to  Law." 

ROBBINS..  EPHRAIM.     See  Rev.  Soldiers. 
ROWELL,  JAMES.1 

ROWLAND,  ISRAEL. 

"  Upon  the  memorial  of  Israel  Rowland,  of  Redding  in  the  county 
of  Fairfield,  shewing  to  this  Assembly  that  in  April  last  he  was  per- 
swaded  and  induced  to  believe  that  the  country  would  be  conquered, 
and  that  through  fear  only  he  joined  the  troops  of  the  enemy,  sup- 
posing they  would  remain  in  Redding  where  they  then  were,  and 
that  he  then  reluctantly  went  away  with  the  enemy  from  whom  he 
never  dared  to  return  till  about  the  4th  of  December  when  relying  on 
the  faith  of  the  proclamation  of  the  Honble  Gen1  Putnam  he  returned 
to  Redding  and  resigned  himself  to  the  authority,  not  supposing  it 
necessary  for  him  to  go  to  Gen1  Putnam,  and  was  by  the  authority 
committed  to  goal  where  he  is  now  a  prisoner ;  and  the  memorialist 
prays  this  Assembly  to  grant  a  pardon,  as  per  memorial  on  file ;  Re- 
solved by  this  Assembly  that  a  pardon  be  granted,  and  free  pardon  is 
hereby  granted  to  said  Israel  Rowland  for  his  said  offence  upon  his 
paying  all  cost  that  has  arisen  in  the  premises." 

[Rec.  State  Conn.,  v.  i,  p.  498;  G.  A.,  Jan.  8,  1778.] 


205 

SANFORD.  EPHRAIM.2 

In  a  list  of  persons  whose  estates  were  ordered  to  be  leased  for 
the  use  and  benefit  of  the  state  [Rev.  War,  vol.  34],  appears  the 
name  of  Ephraim  Sanford.  No  public  records  are  found  relating 
to  him.  Sabine  mentions  an  Ephraim  Sanford,  who,  "  in  1776, 
abandoned  his  farm,  stock,  and  produce,  and  joined  the  royal 
army,"  but  locates  him  in  Salem.  N.  Y. 

SANFORD,  JOHN.     1739-1784. 

Born  April  26,  1739.     Son-in-law  of  Rev.  John  Beach. 

That  a  family  relationship  to  the  Rev.  John  Beach  should  tend 
to  confirm  and  stimulate  loyalty  to  the  cause  of  the  crown  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at :  to  what  extent  John  Sanford  carried  its  mani- 
festations is  unknown  —  perhaps  no  further  than  to  be  too  openly 
outspoken  in  the  expression  of  his  sentiments.  Whatever  the 
occasion  given  for  the  course  of  procedure  adopted  he  was  placed 
under  arrest  as  an  enemy  to  America  and  sent  as  a  prisoner  to 
Mansfield,  Conn.,  from  whence  he  was  finally  paroled  under  bond, 
and  returned  to  Redding,  where  he  remained  quietly  till  the  close  of 
the  war.  The  state  records  make  this  reference  to  his  case : 

"An  order  was  given  to  the  committee  of  prisoners  at  Mansfield, 
to  take  a  bond  of  John  Sanford  [a  person  confined  in  Mansfield,  an 
enemy  to  this  country]  for  1000  pounds,  conditioned  that  whereas  the 
said  John  Sanford  is  found  guilty  of  being  inimical  and  dangerous  to 
this  and  the  rest  of  the  United  States  of  Ama.  Ordered,  to  be  re- 
moved and  sent  to  the  Governor  and  Committee  of  Safety  to  have 
his  place  of  residence  assigned,  and  hath  for  some  time  resided  in 
Mansfield  according  to  said  order,  and  now  moving  for  liberty  to 
return  to  Reading  for  the  settlement  of  his  mother's  estate,  and 
promising  his  good  behaviour  —  now  if  the  said  John  Sanford  shall 
well  and  truly  return  to  Reading,  dwell  and  abide  within  and  not 
depart  out  of  the  limits  of  said  Town,  and  shall  do  nor  say  nothing 
in  prejudice  of  the  interests  or  rights  of  thio  or  any  other  of  the  rest 
of  the  United  States  of  Ama  or  any  of  the  measures  pursuing  by  them 
for  their  defense,  and  shall  not  hold  any  correspondence  with  or  give 
any  intelligence  to  the  enemies  of  said  States,  and  shall  repair  to  any 
place  assigned  by  the  Governor  and  Committee  of  Safety  of  this  State, 
upon  requisition,  then  the  foregoing  bond  to  be  void,  else,  to  remain 
in  full  force  and  virtue,  and  upon  his  executing  said  bond,  to  give 
said  John  Sanford  a  permit  to  return  to  Reading  without  molesta- 
tion e/c  e/c." 

Mr.  Sanford  died  April  18,  1784.  and  is  buried  in  Christ  Church 
Yard. 

[Beach-Sanford  Family  History.] 


206 

SEELEY,  NEHEMIAH. 
SEELEY,  NEHEMIAH,  JR. 
SEYMOUR,  JOHN. 
SHERWOOD,  JOHN. 

SMITH,  JOHN.12  . 

This  is  the  name  (probably  assumed)  of  the  deserter  who  was 
shot  on  Gallows  Hill.  He  was  a  youth  of  about  seventeen  years, 
an  Englishman  by  birth,  who  had  been  a  soldier  with  Burgoyne, 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Saratoga,  and  afterward  enlisted  in  the 
American  Army.  The  contrast  between  his  condition  as  a  well- 
fed,  paid,  clothed,  and  disciplined  soldier  of  the  British  Army,  and 
the  privations  he  was  compelled  to  endure  in  the  American  service, 
caused  him  to  falter  in  loyalty  to  his  new  allegiance,  and  with  hot- 
headed indiscretion  he  declared  his  intention  of  returning  to  the 
British,  and  made  the  attempt,  for  which  he  paid  the  forfeit  of  his 
life. 

ST.  JOHN,  NEHEMIAH.1 
STURGIS,  BENJAMIN.     [Sturges.] 
STURGIS,  EBENEZER.1 

STURGIS,  EBENEZER,  2d. 

See  vote  of  the  town  Jan.  8,  1781.  This  evidently  refers  to 
Ebenezer,  2d,  who  was  a  resident. 

TAYLOR,  GILEAD.2 

A  Tory  of  Danbury  whose  estates  were  confiscated.  Perhaps 
the  same  man  who  bought  Jabez  Williams'  house  and  home-lot  in 
Lonetown  in  1784. 

TAYLOR,  JABEZ,  JR.1 

TAYLOR,  PRESERVED. 

Preserved  Taylor  was  an  old  resident  of  Redding  —  the  father 
of  eleven  children  born  between  1765  and  1785.  He  went  over  to 
the  enemy,  but  could  not  have  remained  with  them  long,  as  his 
residence  in  the  town  was  practically  continuous  for  at  least  twenty 
years.  Measures  were  taken  to  confiscate  his  property,  which  were 
doubtless  suspended  upon  his  return: 


2O7 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  [county]  shewing  the  special  County  Court  held  at  Fairfield 
in  &  for  said  County  on  the  6th  Day  of  August  1777  —  that  there  is 
Real  Estate  Lying  in  said  Redding  which  Belongs  to  Preserved  Taylor 
of  said  Redding  who  has  put  and  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen  him- 
self under  the  Protection  of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  —  A  Writ  was 
if  sued  out  by  order  of  said  Court  Dated  August  7th  1777  To  Seize 
and  to  hold  said  Estate  —  and  to  be  Dealt  with  According  to  Law  — 
the  said  Taylor  was  Called  at  this  Court  made  Default  of  Appear- 
ance—  This  Court  have  Considered  the  Evidences  Relative  to  said 
Taylor's  Screening  himself  As  aforesaid  do  order  that  the  Real  Estate 
of  said  Taylor  According  to  the  Officer's  Return  on  said  Writ  be 
Leafed  out  for  the  ufe  and  Benefit  of  this  State  and  for  that  purpose 
this  Court  has  appointed  Thad3  Benedict  —  Redding." 

"  On  Information  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Redding  in 
Fairfield  County  Shewing  to  John  Read  Esqr  Justice  of  the  peace 
for  said  County  that  there  are  Goods  Chatties  and  Effects  in  said 
Redding  which  Belongs  to  Preserved  Taylor  of  said  Redding  who 
has  put  and  Continues  to  hold  and  Screen  himself  under  the  Pro- 
tection of  the  Ministerial  Army  &c  said  Justice  Ifsued  his  writ  Dated 
May  29th  1777  —  To  Seize  and  to  hold  said  Estate  to  be  Dealt  with 
According  to  Law,  the  said  Taylor  Being  Called  at  this  Court  made 
Default  of  Appearance  —  This  Court  having  Considered  the  Evidences 
Relative  to  said  Taylor's  Screening  himself  As  aforesaid  —  Do  order 
and  Direct  that  the  Goods  and  Effects  of  the  said  Taylor  According 
to  the  officers  Return  on  said  Writ  Be  Forfeited  for  the  use  and 
Benefit  of  this  State,  and  that  they  be  sold  According  to  Law  —  and 
that  Excn  be  granted  &c  — 

Exc"  Granted  Dec.  12th  1777." 

No  further  record  of  forfeiture  found.     Taylor  evidently  re- 
turned after  the  publication  of  Gen.  Putnam's  proclamation. 

TAYLOR,  SILAS.1 

THORNE,  PETER.1     1757-1844. 

Settled  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  died  in  Wilmot,  in  that  province. 

TURXEY,  DAVID. 

WHEELER,  CALVIN.1  « 

WHEELER,  ENOS.  4 

WHEELER,  LAZARUS. 

WHITLOCK,  EBENEZER.1 


208 

WHITLOCK,  EPHRAIM. 
WHITLOCK,  HEZEKIAH.1 
WHITLOCK,  NEHEMIAH.1 
WILLIAMS,  BENJAMIN.1 
WILLIAMS,  EBENEZER. 

[Note.  —  Complete  copies  of  the  Loyalist  claims  may  be  found  at  the  New  York 
Public  Library,  New  York  city.] 


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